cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of the impact of exemptions to the children's sleepwear flammability standards on burn injuries to children

In 1996, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) amended the children's sleepwear flammability standards to exempt sleepwear sized for infants aged nine months or younger and tight-fitting sleepwear for older children. The amendments were developed in response to an apparent preference for untreated cotton garments by many parents and difficulties in enforcing the pre-amendment standards. However, they were adopted only after CPSC concluded that they would provide consumers a wider selection of children's sleepwear without diminishing the protection provided by the pre-amendment standards. The amendments became effective in 1997, but remained controversial, with some interested parties believing that the exemptions would substantially reduce the level of safety for children. To address these concerns, and in cooperation with the American Burn Association and Shriners Hospitals for Children, the CPSC initiated a national study of child clothing-related burn injuries treated in burn center hospitals. From 2003 through 2005, the CPSC collected information on 475 such injuries. This study evaluates the burn center data to help determine the safety effects of the amendments to the sleepwear standards. The results provide no evidence of increased risk of burn injury associated with the exemptions from the sleepwear standards. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A six-stage process for recovery of public records: replevin and the state of North Carolina

To archivists and manuscript collectors and dealers, the term replevin describes governmental efforts to recover public records that are in the custody of a private party. Much of the existing writing on replevin and records focuses on the small number of court decisions regarding custody. More commonly, however, disputes concerning the ownership of records are settled between a government archives and a private party. Drawing upon active records, archival materials, and interviews with public officials, this article examines these quieter recovery cases alongside those that have resulted in a court decision and, in doing so, puts forth a representation of the replevin process. There are three layers to replevin presented in this article. First, this article outlines the general shape to the replevin process and presents a six-stage model that characterizes recovery efforts in the USA. The second layer focuses on the state of North Carolina and builds upon the six-stage model to identify common practices in each stage. The article then presents an individual example of recovery of a public record in North Carolina and, with this layer, considers what this narrative reveals about replevin.
Critical heat flux in flowing liquid films

Abstract Experimental results for the critical heat flux (CHF) and boiling curve in liquid films were found in substantial agreement with recently-reported findings of other investigators. The main liquid film was observed to separate from the heater surface below CHF, leaving a thinner flowing subfilm. Drop deposition from the main film replenished the latter. When this replenishment was insufficient to compensate for subfilm evaporation, CHF occurred. A model based on the trajectories of deposited drops is proposed to explain the form of the correlating equation to within a constant.
Emotion regulation moderates the risk associated with the 5-HTT gene and stress in children.

Carrying a short allele in the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) while experiencing stressful environments is linked to elevated risk for depression. What might offset this risky combination of genes and environment? We hypothesized that individual-level factors may play a protective role. Specifically, we examined whether individuals' ability to decrease their stress responses via effective emotion regulation may be an important moderating factor and addressed this hypothesis in a socioeconomically diverse sample of 205 children aged 9-15 years. At-risk children (short-allele carriers in high-stress contexts) exhibited more depressive symptoms than other groups. Importantly, at-risk children who used effective emotion regulation did not exhibit increased depressive symptoms. These results have important implications for the basic science of understanding risk and resilience: in addition to genes and environment, individuals' agentic ability to self-regulate may need to be considered as a critical third factor. Given that emotion regulation is learnable, these results also have strong public-health implications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Sharing the gift of life: an intervention to increase organ and tissue donation for American Indians.

Context—Growing waiting lists for organ transplantation require attention to populations with a high demand for organs but a low donation rate. American Indians experience a high demand for kidney transplantation because of an epidemic of type 2 diabetes, yet donation consent rates are low in this group.Objective—To design and evaluate an educational intervention to increase the intention to serve as an organ or tissue donor among American Indians.Intervention—Sharing the Gift of Life was designed for reservation-dwelling American Indians living in the Northern Plains area of the United States. The intervention addressed important cultural traditions and was derived from the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change.Design—A 2-stage descriptive evaluation design was used.Setting and Participants—Two evaluation groups were included. American Indian members of a project advisory council served as cultural expert evaluators (stage 1). Northern Plains reservation-dwelling American Indian adults were community...
Abstract 3124: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor α cooperates with loss of p16/INK4a and p19/ARF to enhance tumorigenesis through the PI3K- and SHP-2-mediated signaling in the brain

Glioblastomas are the most common and lethal cancer in the central nervous system. Comprehensive genetic studies showed that in high-grade gliomas, overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) ranks third among top amplified genes and frequently co-occurs with loss of tumor suppressor genes, p16/INK4a and p14/ARF (p19/ARF in mice), in these high-grade glioblastomas. However, the biological consequences of PDGFRα overexpression in INK4a/ARF-deficient glial cells and glioma cells remain elusive. Here we show that activation of PDGFRα signaling by overexpressing PDGFRα and/or PDGF-A transformed Ink4a/Arf-deficient mouse astrocytes in vitro and rendered these cells highly tumorigenic in the brain of mice. Consistently, in INK4a/ARF null but not wild-type human glioma cell lines that express endogenous PDGFRα, overexpression of PDGF-A significantly enhances glioma formation in the brain. Re-introduction of p16/INK4a into Ink4a/Arf-null astrocytes suppressed PDGFRα-induced cell transformation in vitro and glioma formation in the brain. Conversely, cellular depletion of endogenous p16/INK4a by RNA interference in human glioma cells markedly enhances colony formation in vitro when compared to the controls. Mechanistically, abrogation of intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of PDGFRα or interruptions of signaling modules at PDGFRα (Y to F mutations at specific tyrosine residues) that lost binding capacity for PI3K or Shp-2, but not PLC gamma or c-Src, significantly diminished PDGFRα-induced glioma formation in the brain. In vitro, specific YF mutations or inhibitors of PI3K or Shp-2 attenuated Akt activation and PDGFRα-induced colony formation. Furthermore, inhibition of Shp-2 by its inhibitors and siRNAs disrupts the interaction of PI3K with PDGFRα that is critical for gliomagenesis of Ink4a/Arf null cells. In summary, our data suggests that activation of PDGFRα signaling, particularly through the PI3K and Shp-2 pathways, in INK4a/ARF deficient astrocytes and glioma cells induce gliomagenesis in the brain. Our findings provide critical insights into interactions of genetic lesions frequently found in clinical glioma specimens and will be useful for identification of new therapeutic targets for treatments of patients with malignant gliomas. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3124.
Kinetics of the ascension of NTHi from the nasopharynx to the middle ear coincident with adenovirus-induced compromise in the chinchilla.

Abstract To determine the kinetics of ascension of the eustachian tube (ET) by non-typeableHaemophilus influenzae(NTHi)in situfrom the nasopharynx to the middle ear using an experimental model of otitis media (OM), we examined snap-frozen sections of chinchilla ET and middle ear mucosa for adherent bacteria over a 14 day time period. Via fluorescent- and transmission electron-microscopy, we found that NTHi preferentially adhered not to the epithelial cells but to the mucus in the ET and gradually ascended this tubal organ, reaching the middle ear approximately 10 days after intranasal inoculation of adenovirus-infected animals. The number of NTHi adherent to mucus at the pharyngeal portion of the ET increased significantly in the first 4 days after inoculation of the nares whereas the number of adherent bacteria in both the mid and tympanic portions of the ET increased more gradually over time. NTHi were not observed in the middle ear until approximately 7–10 days after inoculation of the nares which was coincident with the onset of clinical signs of OM. These data confirmed our earlierin vitroinvestigation which suggested that adherence to and growth within stagnant mucus within a ET compromised by adenovirus was a possible mechanism by which NTHi, resident in the nasopharynx, might gain access to the middle ear and induce OM.
Environmental Impact of Particles Emitted from Windscale Piles, 1954-7

Abstract During 1954–1957 particles of irradiated uranium oxide were emitted from the Windscale Piles. The particles were large compared with most ambient aerosols, 85% by weight being between 10 and 100 μm diameter, and they mostly fell within a few kilometers of the works. From measurements of activity in soil in 1958 onwards, it is estimated that about 12 kg of uranium, 20 Ci of 137 Cs, 18 Ci of 90 Sr and 0.3 Ci of 239+240 Pu were emitted. To estimate the concentrations of 90 Sr and 137 Cs in milk during the emissions, comparison is made with the fallout of fission products from bomb tests, which also began in 1954, but continued longer. It is calculated that the average level of 90 Sr in milk at Seascale, 1954–1957, was 36 pCi per g Ca, with higher concentrations, 100–200 pCi (g Ca) −1 , in milk from farms immediately surrounding the Windscale plant. For comparison, in 1963/1965 the average level of 90 Sr in milk in the UK was 20–30 pCi (g Ca) −1 , with 90–170 pCi (g Ca) −1 in milk from certain hill farms. Since the oxide particles were larger than those derived from bomb tests, and the conditions of deposition different, an extended review is given (Appendix 1) of the factors determining the entry of radioactive or stable contaminants from fallout into food chains. It is concluded that the oxide particles would have been less efficient in this respect than bomb fallout, mainly because their relatively large size and high density would have given impact velocities sufficient to cause them to bounce off leaves, leaving little activity on the edible herbage. For this reason, the calculations are on the safe side.
Assisted self-association of dicyanoaurate, [Au(CN)2]−, and dicyanoargentate, [Ag(CN)2]−, through hydrogen bonding to metal ammonia complexes

Abstract The salts – yellow [Cr(NH3)6][Ag(CN)2]3 · 2H2O, red [Co(NH3)6][Ag(CN)2]3 · 2H2O, red [Co(NH3)6][Au(CN)2]3 · 2H2O, pale yellow [Ru(NH3)6][Ag(CN)2]3 · 2H2O, yellow K[Cr(NH3)6]2[Au(CN)2]7 · 4H2O, and colorless [(μ2-NH2)2Pt2(NH3)10][Au(CN)2]6 · 5.5{OS(CH3)2} · 0.5H2O – have been prepared by evaporation of aqueous solutions of potassium dicyanoargenate or potassium dicyanoaurate and salts of the appropriate cations. Hydrogen bonding between the cations and the cyano groups of the anions facilitates the formation of structures with strong metallophilic interactions between the anions. Thus, the [Au(CN)2]− or [Ag(CN)2]− ions self-associate into linear trimers in the isostructural set of crystals, [Cr(NH3)6][Ag(CN)2]3 · 2H2O (Ag⋯Ag distance; 3.1610(4) A), [Co(NH3)6][Ag(CN)2]3 · 2H2O (Ag⋯Ag distance; 3.1557(2) A), [Co(NH3)6][Au(CN)2]3 · 2H2O (Au⋯Au distance; 3.0939(4) A), and [Ru(NH3)6][Ag(CN)2]3 · 2H2O (Ag⋯Ag distance; 3.1584(5) A). Crystalline [(μ2-NH2)2Pt2(NH3)10][Au(CN)2]6 · 5.5{OS(CH3)2} · 0.5H2O also contains nearly linear trimers of the dicyanoaurate ion. Yellow crystals of K[Cr(NH3)6]2[Au(CN)2]7 · 4H2O contain a centrosymmetric, bent chain of seven dicyanoaurate ions with Au⋯Au separations of 3.1806(3), 3.2584(4), and 3.1294(4) A.
From Stimulation to Undulation: A Neuronal Pathway for the Control of Swimming in the Leech

Initiation and performance of the swimming movement in the leech ( Hirudo medicinalis ) are controlled by neurons organized at at least four functional levels—sensory neurons, gating neurons, oscillator neurons, and motor neurons. A paired neuron, designated as Trl, in the subesophageal ganglion of the leech has now been shown to define a fifth level, interposed between sensory and gating neurons. Cell Trl is activated by pressure and nociceptive mechanosensory neurons, which mediate bodywall stimulus-evoked swimming activity in intact leeches. In the isolated leech nervous system, brief stimulation of cell Trl elicits sustained activation of the gating neurons and triggers the onset of swimmning activity. The synaptic interactions between all five levels of control are direct. Discovery of the Trl cells thus completes the identification of a synaptic pathway by which mechanosensory stimulation leads to the swimming movements of the leech.
801. RNA Gene Therapy Targeting Herpes Simplex Virus

Purpose: Herpes Simplex Keratitis (HSK) is the leading cause of corneal blindness in developed nations. Despite active antiviral drugs (nucleoside analogues), there is no effective method preventing recurrent HSK. We tested the ability of ribozymes targeting the mRNAs of essential HSV genes to inhibit viral infection in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Hammerhead ribozymes were designed against mRNAs of four essential HSV genes and those with the best cleavage kinetics were packaged in an adenoviral vector containing a CMV promoter and an IRES-GFP element. HSV-1 viral yields (infection at low MOI) following Ad-ribozyme treatment were compared to control cells transduced with adenovirus vector without ribozyme. After ribozyme treatment and HSV-1 infection (high MOI) total RNAs were extracted and a reverse transcription reaction followed by Real-time PCR to quantify target as well as GAPDH level was conducted. The UL20 ribozyme was tested in vivo using a protected ribozyme containing 2' modifications of the ribose sugars of selected nucleotides. This modified ribozyme was delivered to the right eyes of rabbits by iontophoresis; and an inactive ribozyme served as a control in left eyes, followed by inoculation of HSV-1 replicating virus expressing |[beta]|-galactosidase. Three days post- infection, rabbits were sacrificed and corneas were harvested for X-gal staining to visualize the viral infection. Results: The UL20 ribozyme delivered by adenoviral vector reduced HSV-1 viral yield by 83% in the cell culture when cells were infected with HSV-1 for 24 hours in the presence of the ribozyme. In a time course study, the UL20 ribozyme reduced viral replication by 98% after 6 days of HSV-1 infection, indicating a cumulative effect of ribozyme cleavage. The real-time PCR results indicated that UL20 ribozyme reduced target mRNA level by 64%. The chemically stabilized UL20 ribozyme reduced HSV-1 reduced dendrite lesion area by 57% compared with the rabbit eyes treated with an inactive ribozyme. Another ribozyme targeting UL30 mRNA, whose gene product is viral DNA polymerase, was able to reduce viral replication by 98% at one day post HSV-1 infection and maintain the inhibition effect by 99% at third day post infection. Conclusions: A hammerhead ribozyme targeting the mRNA of UL20 gene (a late essential HSV-1 gene) significantly reduced the severity of an HSV-1 ocular infection in rabbits as well as significantly knocking down viral yield in cell culture. And a ribozyme targeting UL30 mRNA achieved the similar effect in the cell culture. These results suggest a RNA gene therapy strategy targeting HSV-1 early/late genes that should lack the toxicity and reduce the risk of generating drug resistant virus. Further studies evaluating the long term efficacy of different viral vectors to deliver therapeutic ribozymes during acute or recurrent HSV-1 infection are currently underway.
A Conceptual Model and Algebra for On-Line Analytical Processing in Decision Support Databases

Data warehousing and On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) are two of the most significant new technologies in the business data processing arena. A data warehouse, or decision support database, can be defined as a "very large" repository of historical data pertaining to an organization. OLAP refers to the technique of performing complex analysis over the information stored in a data warehouse. The complexity of queries required to support OLAP applications makes it difficult to implement using standard relational database technology. Moreover, currently there is no standard conceptual model for OLAP. There clearly is a need for such a model and an algebra as evidenced by the numerous SQL extensions offered by many vendors of OLAP products. In this paper we address this issue by proposing a model of a data cube and an algebra to support OLAP operations on this cube. The model we present is simple and intuitive, and the algebra provides a means to concisely express complex OLAP queries.
Modeling of Pressure Drop During Condensation in Circular and Non-Circular Microchannels

This paper presents a multiple flow-regime model for pressure drop during condensation of refrigerant R134a in horizontal microchannels. Condensation pressure drops measured in two circular and six non-circular channels ranging in hydraulic diameter from 0.42 mm to 0.8 mm are considered here. For each tube under consideration, pressure drop measurements were taken over the entire range of qualities from 100% vapor to 100% liquid for five different refrigerant mass fluxes between 150 kg/m2 -s and 750 kg/m2 -s. Results from previous work by the authors on condensation flow mechanisms in microchannel geometries were used to assign the applicable flow regime to the data points. Garimella et al. [1] reported a comprehensive model for circular tubes that addresses the progression of the condensation process from the vapor phase to the liquid phase by modifying and combining the pressure drop models for intermittent [2] and annular [3] flows reported earlier by them. In this paper, the multiple flow regime model of Garimella et al. [1] for circular microchannels has been extended to horizontal non-circular microchannels of a variety of cross-sections. This combined model accurately predicts condensation pressure drops in the annular, disperse wave, mist, discrete wave, and intermittent flow regimes for both circular and non-circular microchannels of similar hydraulic diameters. Overlap and transition regions between the respective regimes are also addressed using an appropriate interpolation technique that results in relatively smooth transitions between the predicted pressure drops. The resulting model predicts 80% of the data within ±25%. The effect of tube shape on pressure drop is also demonstrated.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Photoluminescence refrigeration in semiconductors

A theoretical study of photoluminescence refrigeration in semiconductors has been carried out using a model that takes into account photon recycling and includes the rate equations for both carriers and photons. General expressions for cooling efficiency, cooling power density, and the cooling condition are derived. The investigation of the photoluminescence refrigeration in an intrinsic GaAs slab shows that net cooling is accessible when quantum efficiency and luminescence extraction are high, and that photon recycling contributes strongly to photoluminescence refrigeration when the luminescence extraction efficiency is small.
Quality Characteristics of Cured Turkey Thigh Meat with Added Hydrocolloids

Abstract Turkey ham-like products were manufactured with turkey thigh meat and 60% (wt/wt) added brine containing cure ingredients and various combinations of carrageenan, locust bean gum, starch, nonfat dry milk (NFDM), and KCl. The brine was incorporated into the meat by vacuum tumbling (30 min on and 60 min off) for 18 h. After stuffing, cooking to 72 C, and cooling to 10 C, the brine-added products were evaluated for cooked yield, visual appearance, sliceability, bind, freeze and thaw purge, sensory properties, and composition. Incorporation of .5% κ-carrageenan (total weight basis) into the cured turkey thigh meat products significantly (P
Postmenopausal hormone therapy and cardiovascular disease in perspective

The totality of data indicate that the window of opportunity for reducing mortality and coronary heart disease (CHD) is initiation of hormone therapy (HT) within 6 years of menopause and/or by 60 years of age and continued for 6 years or more. Additionally, the risks of HT are rare (<1/1,000) especially in younger postmenopausal women and comparable to other primary prevention therapies. In fact, as randomized controlled trial results accumulate, the more they look like the consistent observational data that young postmenopausal women with menopausal symptoms who use HT for long periods of time have lower rates of mortality and CHD than comparable postmenopausal women who do not use HT.
A robust method for finely stratified familial studies with proband-based sampling.

This paper presents a robust method to conduct inference in finely stratified familial studies under proband-based sampling. We assume that the interest is in both the marginal effects of subject-specific covariates on a binary response and the familial aggregation of the response, as quantified by intrafamilial pairwise odds ratios. We adopt an estimating function for proband-based family studies originally developed by Zhao and others (1998) in the context of an unstratified design and treat the stratification effects as fixed nuisance parameters. Our method requires modeling only the first 2 joint moments of the observations and reduces by 2 orders of magnitude the bias induced by fitting the stratum-specific nuisance parameters. An analytical standard error estimator for the proposed estimator is also provided. The proposed approach is applied to a matched case–control familial study of sleep apnea. A simulation study confirms the usefulness of the approach.
A Fort Conger Polar‐Expedition Program

The following program has been prepared for the scientific activities of an observatory at Fort Conger, the station occupied in 1882 by General A. W. Greely, should means offer for its reoccupation in 1932–33 during the second International Polar Year. Material should be taken for the construction of two observatories suitable for occupation throughout the period of the work. These buildings should be well built to provide a satisfactory housing for high-sensitivity instruments. The base of main observatory should be built on ground giving an unobstructed view of the horizon on Ellesmere Island to the west of Robeson Channel and as close to the Channel as possible. The second observatory should be located east of Robeson Channel on the Greenland ice-field at the greatest elevation visible from the base-observatory. Each building should be long enough to house a generator and radio transmitter at one end without interfering with magnetic instruments at the other end of the building. The central portion of each building should consist of a low two-story observatory, the upper room of which would be octagonal with an observational window in each wall. Each window should be provided with triple sashes with plate-glass. The center of the ceiling of the room should be built for the mounting of a ten-inch helioscope. In addition to these permanent observatories there should be two temporary shelters for use during daylight.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty: a pilot study.

Objectives. Robotic technology has been employed to manipulate the laparoscope during urologic procedures. However, to our knowledge, robotic technology has not been previously applied to actually perform the urologic laparoscopic procedure. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of performing robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty and compare it with conventional laparoscopic pyeloplasty in an acute porcine model. Methods. Five female swine (10 kidneys) were prospectively randomized to undergo unstented robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (6 kidneys) or conventional laparoscopic pyeloplasty (4 kidneys). Robotic pyeloplasty was performed with the Zeus robotic system, which incorporates three remote-controlled interactive arms: one voice-activated arm to control the laparoscope and two robotic arms to manipulate purpose-designed instruments. Tissue dissection and transection of ureteropelvic junction area were performed manually by conventional laparoscopy. The pyeloureteric anastomosis during the robotic-assisted pyeloplasty was performed completely robotically from a remote workstation using running 5-0 absorbable sutures. Conventional laparoscopic pyeloplasty was performed manually by laparoscopic intracorporeal suturing and knot-tying techniques. Immediate patency and anastomotic integrity were evaluated by intravenous indigo carmine and ex vivo retrograde ureteropyelogram. Results. In comparing robotic and conventional laparoscopic pyeloplasty, the following data were obtained: total surgical time (115.2 versus 94.5 minutes, P = 0.2), anastomosis time (75.7 versus 64.3 minutes, P = 0.3), and total number of suture-bites per ureter (13.0 versus 12.5, P = 0.8). Anastomoses were immediately watertight in 5 of 6 robotic and 3 of 4 conventional pyeloplasties. Conclusions. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty is a feasible and effective procedure that may enhance surgical dexterity and precision. This has implications for clinical applications of laparoscopic telesurgery in the future.
Exploring interlibrary loan usage patterns and liaison activities: the experience at a US university

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore actual interlibrary loan (ILL) usage patterns as a way to improve ILL services and assist in library liaison work.Design/methodology/approach – The study assesses ILL services at a mid‐size comprehensive college library in order to see who is utilizing the current service. Usage patterns are constructed and explored based on data collected over a three‐year period. The requested materials' publication date and Library of Congress subject heading, as well as the requestor's academic status (faculty, graduate student, undergraduate student) and department are addressed.Findings – Usage patterns can accurately illustrate trends in the borrowing behavior of patrons in order to gain a better understanding of their needs. The majority of users were faculty members from a limited number of academic departments. Usage patterns can be very helpful in constructing and focusing liaison work. A thorough study of ILL usage patterns is a viable undertaking worthwhile fo...
Interpolation based direct digital frequency synthesis for wireless communications

In this paper, a compact architecture for direct digital frequency synthesis (DDFS) is presented. It uses a smaller lookup table for sine and cosine functions compared to existing architectures, with minimal hardware overhead. The computation of the sinusoidal values is performed by a parabolic interpolation structure, thus only interpolation coefficients need to be stored in the read-only memory (ROM). A DDFS with 64 dBc SFDR, 10-bit output resolution and 32 bit phase accumulator requires only 104 bits of ROM storage. The ROM size is consistently less than 1 Kbits for SFDR up to 85 dBc.
A signed generalization of the Bernoulli-Laplace diffusion model

We bound the rate of convergence to stationarity for a signed generalization of the Bernoulli-Laplace diffusion model; this signed generalization is a Markov chain on the homogeneous space (Z_2 \wr S_n) / (S_r \times S_{n-r}). Specifically, for r not too far from n/2, we determine that, to first order in n, 1/4 n \log n steps are both necessary and sufficient for total variation distance to become small. Moreover, for r not too far from n/2, we show that our signed generalization also exhibits the ``cutoff phenomenon.''
Rapid analysis of trace organics in aqueous solutions by enrichment in uncoated capillary columns

A novel technique has been developed for the analysis of trace organics in aqueous solutions. Concentration of organics is effected by passage of the solution being analysed through uncoated plastic or metal capillaries as reported. The concentrated organics are then desorbed from the capillary using an organic solvent, and the desorbed solution is subsequently analysed by gas chromatography. Organics trapped inside a variety of columns have been recovered by solvent desorption in this manner using a number of different solvents, mixed solvents, different solvent volumes, different solvent flow rates through the capillary column and at different desorption temperatures, and the effects of these variables on the efficiency of desorption are discussed.
Gene Array Analysis Reveals Changes in Peripheral Nervous System Gene Expression following Stimuli That Result in Reactivation of Latent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1: Induction of Transcription Factor Bcl-3

The earliest events within the peripheral mammalian nervous system that cause herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to reactivate from latency are unknown but are highly likely to include altered regulation of cellular transcription factors. Using gene array analysis, we have examined the changes that occur in cellular mRNA levels in mouse trigeminal ganglia following explantation, a stimulus that results in HSV-1 reactivation from latency. We have detected both increased and decreased expression levels of particular cellular transcripts, which include RNAs encoding neuronal factors, transcription factors, and factors involved in the cell cycle. Among the transcription factors that are upregulated is Bcl-3, a coactivator for NFκB. We have confirmed these increases in Bcl-3 transcription levels using reverse transcription-PCR and S1 nuclease protection assays. In addition, we have shown Bcl-3 upregulation at the protein level. Importantly, Bcl-3 RNA levels were found to increase specifically in neuronal cells within the trigeminal ganglia. We discuss a potential role for this factor in upregulating ICP0 transcription, which is an important viral event for initiation of HSV-1 reactivation.
A Divide-and-Conquer Method for Sparse Inverse Covariance Estimation

In this paper, we consider the $\ell_1$ regularized sparse inverse covariance matrix estimation problem with a very large number of variables. Even in the face of this high dimensionality, and with limited number of samples, recent work has shown this estimator to have strong statistical guarantees in recovering the true structure of the sparse inverse covariance matrix, or alternatively the underlying graph structure of the corresponding Gaussian Markov Random Field. Our proposed algorithm divides the problem into smaller sub-problems, and uses the solutions of the sub-problems to build a good approximation for the original problem. We derive a bound on the distance of the approximate solution to the true solution. Based on this bound, we propose a clustering algorithm that attempts to minimize this bound, and in practice, is able to find effective partitions of the variables. We further use the approximate solution, i.e., solution resulting from solving the sub-problems, as an initial point to solve the original problem, and achieve a much faster computational procedure. As an example, a recent state-of-the-art method, QUIC requires 10 hours to solve a problem (with 10,000 nodes) that arises from a climate application, while our proposed algorithm, Divide and Conquer QUIC (DC-QUIC) only requires one hour to solve the problem.
Histochemical differentiation of localized morphea-scleroderma and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus.

Dermatologic literature has debated the occurrence of concommitant morphea-scleroderma (M-S) and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) for sometime. Presentation of a case which has the appearance of both M-S and LSA creates a diagnostic dilemma frequently unresolved even by histopathology. Routine hematoxylin and eosin stained sections may add to the confusion and the difficulty of the differentiation, but examination for the presence or absence of elastic fibers in the upper corium of the lesions affords a definitive separation of these two conditions.
Gender differences in consequences of ADHD symptoms in a community-based organization for youth

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been linked to disruptive behavior and disciplinary consequences; however, the variables involved in this process are largely unknown. The curren...
A preliminary investigation of the effect of correctional officers’ bases of power on their fear and risk of victimization

Despite research on disorder in prison, knowledge is limited regarding keeping order within the correctional environment. A sector of this research delves into how the uses of correctional officer power influence inmate compliance and support the goals of the institution, but no research has examined how officers rely on different power bases because of their own fear and risk of victimization; the current study preliminarily explores this issue. This study used the results of a self-administered survey of 1231 officers in adult prisons in a Mid-Atlantic state. Of the various bases of power, expert power and legitimate power were negatively related to fear, and expert power and referent power were negatively related to risk of victimization. Conversely, reward power was positively related to risk of victimization. The study concluded that officers who rely on more internal bases of power are less fearful and believe themselves to be at lower risk of victimization compared to officers who rely on more exte...
Probiotics in Primary Care Pediatrics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help stabilize and balance intestinal microflora. Although these organisms are ubiquitous and have been used in the production of foods, probiotics have been used more frequently for therapeutic purposes, including the treatment and prevention of pediatric diseases. This article reviews the proposed mechanisms of the beneficial effects of probiotics, potential uses of these organisms in pediatric care, and promising future directions for their application.
Characterization of graphene-on-insulator films formed using plasma based surface chemistry

Abstract This research explores the surface chemistry of halogen based plasmas on silicon carbide and is aimed at the synthesis of large area graphene-on-insulator films. In these studies, 6H–SiC (0001) substrates were etched using either CF4 and Cl2 based plasmas and then thermally annealed. The resulting surfaces were analyzed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflection high energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The analyses showed that the etching process selectively etched silicon to produce carbon rich surface layers on the silicon carbide substrate, and when annealed, these carbon rich layers formed graphene films with halogen- and oxygen-based defects. The thickness of the graphene was controlled by the plasma etch parameters. Two point current–voltage measurements were used to characterize the electrical properties of the films. The current–voltage plots exhibited back-to-back Schottky behavior which suggests that the defects open a band gap in these films. Current-voltage data were used to determine the Schottky barrier height, carrier density, and the upper limit for the film resistivity.
Utilization due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its predictors: a study using the U.S. National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS)

Previous studies of healthcare utilization for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have focused on time-trends in COPD visits or COPD treatments, or the effect of hospital volume on mortality. Few data are available regarding outcomes after an ED visit (and subsequent hospitalization) for COPD, which are both very common in patients with COPD. Our objective was to assess time-trends and predictors of emergency department and subsequent inpatient health care utilization and charges associated with COPD in the U.S. We used the 2009-12 U.S. Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) to study the incidence of ED visits and subsequent hospitalizations with COPD as the primary diagnosis. We used the 2012 NEDS data to study key patient/hospital factors associated with outcomes, including charges, hospitalization and dischage from hospital to home. ED visits for COPD as the primary diagnosis increased from 1.02 million in 2009 to 1.04 in 2010 to 1.10 million in 2012 (0.79–0.82 % of all ED visits); respective charges were $2.13, $2.32, and $3.09 billion. In 2012, mean ED charges/visit were $2,812, hospitalization charges/visit were $29,043 and the length of hospital stay was 4.3 days. 49 % were hospitalized after an ED visit. Older age, higher median income, metropolitan residence and comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, HF, hyperlipidemia, CHD, renal failure and osteoarthritis) were associated with higher risk whereas male sex, Medicaid or self pay insurance status, hospital location in Midwest, South or West U.S. were associated with lower risk of hospitalization. 65.4 % of all patients hospitalized for COPD from ED were discharged home. Older age, comorbidities (diabetes, HF, CHD, renal failure, osteoarthritis) and metropolitan residence were associated with lower odds of discharge to home, whereas male sex, payer other than Medicare, Midwest, South or West U.S. hospital location were associated with higher odds. Health care utilization and costs in patients with COPD are significant and increasing. COPD constitutes a major public health burden in the U.S. We identified risk factors for hospitalization, costs, and home discharge in patients with COPD that will allow future studies to investigate interventions to potentially reduce COPD-associated utilization.
Mostly Dead? Copyright Law in the New Millennium

The argument that copyright cannot long survive in a digital environment runs like this: access to works in digital form can be controlled by technology. Even after a work has been accessed, technology can monitor and regulate its use. If the protective measures deployed by owners cannot be circumvented by users, owners will enjoy virtually absolute control over their works, unencumbered by the limitations embodied in copyright law. Electronic distribution allows owners to interact directly with users and that interaction will increasingly take the form of contracts dictating the terms and conditions of use. To paraphrase Sir Henry Maine, we will have a movement from copyright to contract. Some scholars have urged the courts to adopt heroic measures to preserve the "nice balance" that is copyright. For better or for worse, their legal arguments are unlikely to prevail. Perhaps the forces of competition will drive contract-based protection toward something resembling the historical balance of copyright. Technological protection also has internal limits — electronic containers sealed too tightly generate inconvenience and problems even for authorized users. Copyright law may be mostly dead in the wake of the DMCA, but "mostly dead is slightly alive." Copyright law might survive in a robust form if the public demands that Congress reassert its authority to oversee the public interest. Ordinary citizens generally think little about copyright, and for the most part the contours of the law have been set by the copyright industries and a few large users. That may change as technology brings more and more works directly into our homes. People are increasingly conscious of the power of technology to deliver data and entertainment, and as they grow frustrated at technological impediments to its use and enjoyment, pressure may build on Congress to protect the interests of users.
Comparative studies of social behavior in Callicebus and Saimiri : Heterosexual jealousy behavior

1. In nature, titi monkeys (Callicebus moloch) are typically found in small ‘family-type’ groups, the nucleus of which is an adult male and female that form strong and abiding emotional attachments to one another. 2. To further understand the behavioral basis for this monogamous patern, the present experiment investigated the possibility that a mechanism tending to prevent accretions to the minimal male-female unit is ‘jealous behavior,’ defined as a specific set of spatial and agonistic responses occurring when a subject encounters its mate in proximity to a perceived competitor or rival. Ten adult titi monkeys housed in heterosexual pairs were observed in three sets of test conditions, one of which (Cagemate vs. Intruder) presented the subject's mate in three levels of increasing proximity to a stranger of the subject's sex (intruder). A parallel set of ‘control’ conditions (Opposite-Sex Stranger vs. Intruder) and three Single-Stimulus conditions were also presented. To provide comparative data on jealousy behavior in a nonmonogamous primate, ten adult squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) housed in malefemale pairs were tested in the same circumstances. 3. Results from the jealousy conditions indicated a large, unanticipated sex difference in Callicebus. Male titis displayed a marked enhancement of attraction to the mate and an increment in agonism toward the intruder as a function of increasing proximity of intruder and mate (Fig. 3a). Female titis, however, showed an opposite reaction, displaying highest levels of attraction to the mate when the intruder was most distant (Fig. 3b). Neither sex of Saimiri showed significant jealousy reactions (Fig. 3c and d). Results from the Single-Stimulus conditions corroborated previous data indicating that basic attractions between male-female cagemates are both stronger and more specific in Callicebus than in Saimiri (Fig. 2). 4. The sex difference in reactions to jealousy conditions found for titis in our experiment is consistent with available field notes on their behavior in the wild, and is interpreted in terms of the particular contingencies of male and female reproductive success in a monogamous social system. In particular, it is suggested that jealousy behavior in monogamous males reduces the likelihood of being cuckolded.
P646The adult murine heart is protected against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the absence of both mitofusin (Mfn) proteins

Background: Cardiac-specific ablation of both Mfn1 and Mfn2 in the adult heart results in mitochondrial fragmentation and a lethal cardiomyopathy after about 6 weeks. The effect of combined Mfn1 and Mfn2 deletion on the susceptibility to acute ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and subsequent calcium overload is not known, and is investigated in this study. Methods and Results: Cardiac-specific ablation of both Mfn1 and Mfn2 (DKO) was initiated in mice aged 5 weeks using 5 days administration of tamoxifen (MerCreMer), resulting in total knockout of both these proteins at the age of 10 weeks. These mice were subjected to in vivo myocardial ischemia (30 mins) followed by 24 hrs reperfusion before myocardial infarct size was determined. The sustained MI size in the DKO mice was 50% smaller than that in the WT control mice. These findings were associated with decreased MPTP opening susceptibility (assessed by calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling), reduced mitochondrial calcium overload after simulated IR (assessed by Rhod2 staining) and impaired mitochondrial respiration in the DKO hearts when compared to WT control. Conclusions: We have shown that the adult murine heart deficient in both Mfn1 and Mfn2 was protected against acute IRI, a finding which was associated with defects in mitochondrial function and reduced mitochondrial calcium overload. This data suggests that the Mitofusins may be therapeutic targets for cardioprotection.
Effect of cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate on human platelet function.

Abstract The relation of cyclic 3′,5′-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) to platelet function was studied by investigating the influence of this compound and its N 2 ,O 2′ -dibutyryl derivative (DBcGMP) on platelet aggregation and the release reaction. Both cGMP and dibutyryl cGMP enhanced to an equal extent platelet aggregation induced by epinephrine or by chick skin collagen α1 chain. The platelet release reaction, as measured by the release of [ 14 C]-labeled 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) was also enhanced by the cyclic nucleotides. Both compounds were also able to partially overcome the inhibitory effect of N 6 ,O 2′ -dibutyryl 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (DBcAMP), prostaglandin E 1 , and theophylline. The effect of DBcGMP did not result from contamination with 5′-GMP. Butyric acid and 5′-GMP, either alone or in combination, had no detectable effect on platelet function. The in vitro effect of DBcGMP and cGMP was not dependent on preincubation of platelets with the compounds. This suggests that their effect is mediated by direct action on the platelet membranes. These data are consistent with previous observations that the platelet aggregating agents (epinephrine, ADP, collagen, and chick collagen α1 chains) cause an increase in the content of GMP, and support the hypothesis that platelet aggregation is favored by an increase in cGMP.
Surgical Treatment of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and the Short Bowel Syndrome

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common surgical emergency of newborns and the most common cause of short bowel syndrome in infancy. The surgical treatment of NEC is reviewed, including indications for operation, surgical procedures, postoperative management and complications, and survival. The causes, pathophysiology, and treatment of short bowel syndrome are also discussed.
The Control of Marine Phytoplankton. Use of Quine's View of “Object” in Assessing Productivity and Control

AbstractThe identifiable phytoplankton species between New Zealand and Hawaii can be divided into the fraction that grows readily under improved conditions, composed of diatom species plus Coccolithus huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica, and the complementary fraction of other species that do not so grow. Samples containing a higher proportion of the first fraction of cells have a higher growth capacity. The phytoplankton between New Zealand and Hawaii having varying proportions of the two fractions has a varying growth capacity. The phytoplankton is the single entity that is controlled both by its own variable growth capacity and a variable oceanic nutrient concentration between New Zealand and Hawaii. The phytoplankton is a single but scattered, concrete object; growth capacity is a single, abstract entity. The two together do not control nutrient concentrations since they are powerless to prevent large, excess amounts of nutrient about the equator. Instead, then, growth capacity and nutrient concentratio...