cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of radiation therapy in preventing regional recurrences of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate treatment of the inguinal nodes for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Methods and materials We reviewed the records of 227 patients who had treatment of the inguinal lymph nodes between 1980 and 1998 for squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. The inguinal nodes were clinically suspicious in 67 patients and clinically negative in 160. Regional treatment was as follows: lymph node dissection (LND) alone in 119 patients, LND plus radiation therapy (RT) in 57, and RT alone in 51. The extent of LND ranged from node excision to radical inguinal LND; all patients treated with LND alone had at least a superficial inguinal LND. Median follow-up of surviving patients was 98 months. Rates of inguinal node recurrence (INR) at 5 years were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Thirty-two patients had INRs (5-year INR rate, 15.4%). Patients who received RT alone or RT + LND were significantly more likely than those treated with LND alone to have T3–4 tumors, tumors >5 cm, or lymph node involvement. However, 5-year INR rates were similar for the three groups (16%, 13%, and 16%, respectively). For patients who had LND only, the risk of INR was greater if the primary tumor was more than 2 cm (p = 0.056) or poorly differentiated (p = 0.04). For patients who had postoperative RT, INR was significantly greater if the time from LND to RT was greater than 50 days (p = 0.03). Ten patients had severe groin or lower-extremity complications after LND. Two patients died of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. Six patients who were treated with RT had hip fractures or hip replacements after treatment. Conclusion RT alone or in combination with LND is highly effective in preventing INR in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva and is associated with a low risk of major late complications.
The relativistic Schrödinger equation and its application to pseudoscalar meson-baryon scattering in a broken SU 3 symmetry model

The relativistic Schrodinger equation is applied to the multichannel problem of pseudoscalar meson-baryon scattering in the two lowest partial waves. Actual physical masses are used in the calculation so thatSU3 symmetry is broken. The potential is obtained by computing allowed single-particle exchange processes for which the exchanged particles have spin less than or equal to 3/2, following some simple rules. The model accounts for most of the experimentally known baryon resonances in these partial waves.
Respiratory Properties of Cytochrome-c-Deficient Mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii

Cytochrome-c-deficient mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii have been isolated following mutagenesis with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. These mutants grow well under nitrogen-fixing conditions and studies of the physiology and energy conservation efficiency show no apparent differences from those of the parent strain. Under oxygen-limited growth conditions, the growth rate of the cytochrome-c-deficient mutant was slightly slower (approx. 15%) than that of the parent strain. Cytochromes of the c-type are required for the oxidation of artificial electron donors such as reduced N,N,N,′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine [Ph(NMe2)2]. This study could not demonstrate a physiological role for the c-type cytochromes which further supports the idea that the minor Ph(NMe2)2-oxidizing pathway of the electron transport chain may be independent of the major pathway terminated by cytochrome d.
Influence of Czochralski silicon crystal growth on wafer quality : an extensive investigation using traditional and new characterization techniques

In this paper results on the relationship between Czochralski silicon crystal growth and wafer quality characteristics are presented. Several crystals grown with different oxygen content and growth parameters are examined. The growth parameters are varied in order to obtain different types and distributions of intrinsic point defects, namely vacancies and interstitials. Traditional and more recent characterization techniques are applied in this analysis, such as gate oxide integrity and light point defects evaluation, or high resolution lifetime mapping. In this way, a comprehensive picture is generated of the properties of a silicon wafer and how it is impacted by the crystal growth process.
Transnational Politics and Settlement Practices Post-Soviet Immigrant Churches in Rome

Conventionally, social scientists regard immigrant churches as settlement institutions with immigrant assimilation as their goal. This study of Ukrainian immigrants who flooded to Rome in the wake ...
Suppression of Ovarian Follicle Activation in Mice by the Transcription Factor Foxo3a

Foxo transcription factors have been implicated in diverse biological processes, including metabolism, cellular stress responses, and aging. Here, we show that Foxo3a-/- female mice exhibit a distinctive ovarian phenotype of global follicular activation leading to oocyte death, early depletion of functional ovarian follicles, and secondary infertility. Foxo3a thus functions at the earliest stages of follicular growth as a suppressor of follicular activation. In addition to providing a molecular entry point for studying the regulation of follicular growth, these results raise the possibility that accelerated follicular initiation plays a role in premature ovarian failure, a common cause of infertility and premature aging in women.
The unintegrated right cerebral hemispheric consciousness as alien intruder: A possible mechanism for schneiderian delusions in schizophrenia

Abstract The author proposes that one of the vital components of interhemispheric integration is the inhibition of any awareness by the verbally expressive hemispheric consciousness (usually the left) that it actually receives and sends thoughts, intentions, and feelings from and to another (right hemispheric) consciousness. This inhibition guarantees the unity of the right and left hemispheres into one “self” in the normal person. In schizophrenia, defective interhemispheric integration, probably neurochemical, may lead to disinhibition of the awareness by the left hemisphere that it is being “influenced” by an unknown “external force” which is fact the right hemisphere. Schneiderian delusions such as thought insertion and withdrawal and passivity feelings may be a direct outcome of such a deficit. Some lines of evidence and tests for the hypothesis are presented and discussed.
Lysosomal sulfate transport: inhibitor studies.

Abstract Sulfate derived from the degradation of macromolecules is released from lysosomes via a carrier mediated process. In order to further characterize this process, recognized inhibitors of the erythrocyte band 3 anion transporter were examined for their effects on the lysosomal system. Studies with band 3 transport site inhibitors such as DIDS, SITS and phenylglyoxal indicated that, similar to the case for the band 3 protein, the llysosomal transporter has critical lysine and arginine residues. Band 3 translocation pathway or channel blocking inhibitors had mixed effects on the lysosomal system. 1,2-Cyclohexanedione, which covalently modifies a band 3 arginine residue distinct from that modified by phenylglyoxal, inhibited lysosomal sulfate transport. In contrast, the potent band 3 inhibitor dipyridamole had no effect on lysosomal sulfate transport indicating that there are some structural differences between the erythrocyte and lysosomal anion transporters. The band 3 translocation inhibitors niflumic acid and dinitrofluorobenzene were both effective inhibitors of the lysosomal system. Cupric ion inhibited sulfate transport while Ca 2+ , Co 2+ , Mg 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Zn 2+ had no inhibitory effects. Exposure of intact lysosomes to trypsin largely ablated transport of sulfate. This information should be useful in efforts to further elucidate the structure and function of the lysosomal sulfate transporter.
Dimensions of sensory quality: A critique

Abstract This essay argues that quality is a complex term used in different ways. In addition to sensory quality, there are factors such as nutritional content, safety, shelf-life and reliability, that contribute to the consumer's overall opinion of a food product. Product quality is multidimensional. Some sensory quality determinations have taken an analytic approach through the identification of defects by experts or descriptive measurement of conformance to a target. However, consumer opinion must be one benchmark for good quality. Yet this also presents problems. Consumers are rarely analytical — they perceive products in an integrated fashion, show halo effects and use language imprecisely. Product strategists would do well to focus on specific aspects of consumer appeal. A comprehensive approach to quality entails a consideration of consumer needs and expectations, careful translation of consumer language, and optimization of attributes through good sensory measurement.
Direct Effects of Chronic Ethanol Exposure on β-Adrenergic and Adenosine-Sensitive Adenylate Cyclase Activities and Cyclic AMP Content in Primary Cerebellar Cultures

The direct effects of chronic ethanol exposure on adenylate cyclase activity and cyclic AMP content were investigated in primary cerebellar cultures. By morphological criteria these cultures mainly contain granule cells with some astrocytes, and each cell type appears to contain both beta-adrenergic and adenosine-sensitive adenylate cyclase systems. Chronic treatment of the primary cerebellar cultures with 120 mM ethanol for 6 days caused a reduction in the stimulation of cyclic AMP content by isoproterenol and by the adenosine analogue 2-chloroadenosine. Kinetic analysis indicated that the chronic ethanol treatment decreased maximal activation of adenylate cyclase, as well as increased the EC50 values for norepinephrine and 2-chloroadenosine. Activation of norepinephrine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by in vitro ethanol was significantly enhanced after the chronic ethanol exposure. However, the chronic treatment did not alter activation of the 2-chloroadenosine-stimulated enzyme by in vitro ethanol. A similar difference in the response to in vitro ethanol after the chronic treatment was observed when cyclic AMP content of the intact cells was measured. The present data indicate that chronic ethanol exposure causes a selective increase in the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to ethanol in some brain cells and a more generalized desensitization of receptor-stimulated cyclic AMP production.
Ultrashort-pulse multichannel infrared spectroscopy using broadband frequency conversion in LiIO(3).

A simple probing method for obtaining broadband multichannel infrared spectra with picosecond or higher time resolution is described. Spectrally broad infrared pulses are produced by difference frequency mixing in LiIO3 between the second harmonic of a Nd+3: YAG laser and the broadband output of a synchronously pumped dye laser. After sample absorption the infrared pulse is upconverted by a second LiIO3 crystal, which yields a visible pulse that is dispersed on a multichannel vidicon detector to obtain transient spectra of 4-cm−1 FWHM resolution.
Two large prospective studies of mortality among men who use snuff or chewing tobacco (United States)

Background: Few prospective studies have examined the health risks associated with use of snuff and chewing tobacco. Methods: We studied the association between the use of spit tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) and mortality among men enrolled in Cancer Prevention Study I (CPS-I) in 1959 or Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS-II) in 1982. Analyses were based on men who reported exclusive use of snuff or chewing tobacco (7745 in CPS-I, 3327 in CPS-II) or no previous use of any tobacco product (69,662 in CPS-I, 111,482 in CPS-II) at baseline. Twelve-year follow-up of CPS-I, and 18-year follow-up of CPS-II identified 11,871 and 19,588 deaths, respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used to control for age and other covariates. Results: Men who currently used snuff or chewing tobacco at baseline had higher death rates from all causes than men who did not in both CPS-I (hazard ratio [HR]=1.17, 95% CI=1.11–1.23) and CPS-II (HR=1.18, 95% CI=1.08–1.29). In CPS-I, current use of spit tobacco was statistically significantly associated with death from coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and diseases of the respiratory, digestive, and genitourinary systems, but not with death from cancer. In CPS-II, use of these products was significantly associated with death from CHD, stroke, all cancers combined, lung cancer, and cirrhosis. The associations with cardiovascular and other non-malignant endpoints were attenuated, but not eliminated, by controlling for measured covariates. Former use of spit tobacco was not associated with any endpoint in CPS-II. No clear dose response was observed with either the frequency or duration of usage for any endpoint. Conclusions: These two prospective studies provide limited evidence that current use of chewing tobacco or snuff may increase mortality from heart disease and stroke.
Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in the Treatment of Extensive LSD-induced Lower Extremity Vasospasm Refractory to Pharmacologic Therapy

Ergot poisoning is an uncommon but recognized cause of peripheral vascular ischemia and lower extremity gangrene. The traditional management of ergot-related vasospasm includes withdrawal of the inciting compound and supportive care. The authors report a rare case of ergotism related to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) ingestion and describe unconventional treatment of associated extensive lower extremity vasospasm with use of balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.
Effect of Temperature Variations on Molecular Weight Distributions - Batch, Chain Addition Polymerizations

Abstract The Maximum Principle was applied to determine the types of temperature variations that minimize and maximize the breadth of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) for chain addition polymerizations in batch reactors. It was found that the variations which minimize the breadth of the MWD keep the instantaneous number average chain length constant. The variations which maximize the breadth of the MWD are step changes in temperature resulting in bimodal distributions. Numerical and experimental examples of such variations are presented. MWD's with minimum and maximum breadths are compared to those that might be formed by temperature variations in real reactors. Under most conditions, temperature variations appear to have a much greater effect on MWD than residence time distributions and micromixing.
Cocaine Increases Actin Cycling: Effects in the Reinstatement Model of Drug Seeking

Addiction to cocaine is associated with persistent changes in synaptic function. The cycling of actin between polymerized [F (for filamentous)] and depolymerized forms contributes to synaptic plasticity, and acute and withdrawal from repeated cocaine administration produced reversible and enduring elevations, respectively, in F-actin in the nucleus accumbens. Increased F-actin after 3 weeks withdrawal from repeated cocaine resulted from changes in the content or phosphorylation state of actin binding proteins (ABPs) that cosediment with F-actin. The profile of altered APBs was consistent with filopodia formation, including increased mammalian Enabled, phosphorylated (p)-cortactin, and p-vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, and increased actin depolymerization [e.g., reduced LIM (Lin11/Isl-1/Mec3)-kinase and p-cofilin]. In contrast to repeated cocaine, the increase in F-actin after acute cocaine administration resulted from reduced depolymerization and actin cycling. The potential involvement of chronic cocaine-induced increases in actin cycling in cocaine addiction was examined using the reinstatement of cocaine seeking in rats previously trained to self-administer cocaine by inhibiting actin polymerization with intra-accumbens latrunculin A or by accelerating actin depolymerization with a LIM-kinase inhibitor. Disrupting actin cycling via either mechanism augmented cocaine-induced reinstatement of drug seeking but did not affect the locomotor response to acute cocaine administration. Thus, withdrawal from repeated cocaine induces a restructuring of actin-ABP complexes, which increases actin cycling and may modulate cocaine-induced reinstatement of drug seeking.
Commensurability oscillations in fast particle energy loss to a density modulated 2DEG in a magnetic field

Abstract We examine fast particle energy loss as a probe of the properties of a density modulated 2DEG in a normal magnetic field. In the high velocity limit, the local plasmon spectrum makes two separate contributions to energy loss for both the cases in which the particle velocity is parallel and perpendicular to the planar 2DEG. The inter-Landau band plasmon makes a distinct contribution to energy loss through excitation of the hybrid 2D magnetoplasmon. The other local plasmon, associated with the spread of a Landau level into a miniband by application of the periodic potential associated with the density modulation contributes to energy loss with features corresponding to Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations jointly with an amplitude envelope exhibiting oscillations associated with the commensurability of the modulation period and the cyclotron radius at the Fermi energy.
Do Public Reports of Provider Performance Make Their Data and Methods Available and Accessible

Public reports of provider performance are widespread and the methods used to generate the provider ratings differ across the sponsoring entities. We examined 115 hospital and 27 physician public r...
Climate and recruitment limitation of hosts: the dynamics of American cutaneous leishmaniasis seen through semi-mechanistic seasonal models

Diseases cycle as a response to endogenous and exogenous factors. For infectious diseases caused by vector-transmitted pathogens, the exogenous factors are commonly equated to climatic forces and the endogenous factors to the recruitment of new susceptible individuals. Mathematical models that explicitly (parametrically) consider both types of factor are, however, very rare. An approach is presented to model the effects of endogenous and exogenous factors parametrically, using a time series for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) from Costa Rica. The seasonality of the disease is modelled using a seasonal autoregressive approach. The latter has the advantage of allowing the use of semi-mechanistic frameworks that consider infection clearance, while explicitly introducing the feedbacks produced by the transition between immune classes, as well as climatic forcing. It also uses a relatively small number of degrees of freedom (compared with the numbers involved in semi-parametric approaches), making it useful for relatively short time series and series with abrupt changes. Compared with non-mechanistic models built for prediction purposes, this way of modelling seems to increase the likelihood of the data being explained by a plausible mechanism. The approach used in this study of ACL could be useful in investigating the changes that occur in other diseases that show non-stationary seasonal dynamics, and can be easily adapted to model the dynamics of other infectious diseases that show trends or breakpoints. The present results support the view that humans affected by ACL are mostly incidental hosts, and indicate that, at the population level, there is a delay of about 5 months between human infection with the causative parasites and the onset of clinical symptoms. They encourage the development of surveillance systems, for monitoring the prevalence of infection in the sandflies that act as vectors, and the use of sentinel hosts, so that control measures can be rapidly applied or strengthened before a serious outbreak occurs. The development of more accurate mathematical models of ACL will depend largely on advances in the ecology of the disease and of all the hosts of the causative parasites.
The relationship of some electrolytes of the serum, edema fluid, and urine in a case of intractable heart failure.

Abstract An individual with intractable heart failure and with normally functioning kidneys died on the thirty-ninth day of hospitalization. During this time, his diet was fairly uniform and constant for sodium and potassium. Daily records were made of the weight and fluid balance, of the concentration of sodium, potassium, and chloride, of plasma and edema fluid, and of the total output of these electrolytes in the urine. The effect was noted on these determinations of: (1) no medication, (2) digitoxin, (3) mercurials, (4) hypertonic salt solution, and (5) potassium acetate. In the untreated state, the serum sodium was significantly higher than that of the edema fluid. This relationship could be temporarily reversed by mercurials that caused a sharp increase in urinary sodium and chloride. Oral potassium was excreted almost quantitatively in the urine. Hypertonic salt solution and digitoxin were without appreciable effect. The individual variability of the manifestation of cardiac failure, a gradient of sodium between plasma and edema fluid, is reported.
BREAKFAST CONSUMPTION PATTERNS OF U.S. CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

The Nationwide Food Consumption Survey was used to evaluate the breakfast consumption patterns of the U.S. child and adolescent population. Results indicated that breakfast skipping increased with age and was most prevalent among female adolescents. The sample was partitioned into four age/sex classes and by breakfast consumption patterns. The most popular breakfasts consumed by the sample populations were identified. Analyses of average dietary component intake levels of seven identified problem nutrients, i.e., pyridoxine, vitamin A, iron, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc showed that omission of breakfast had a strong negative impact, particularly among female adolescents, on the quality of diets. Individuals who consumed readyto-eat (RTE) cereal at breakfast on a somewhat frequent basis had higher average daily intakes of the problem nutrients as well as higher average daily total sugars intakes. Highest average daily cholesterol intakes were evidenced for breakfast consumers not eating RTE cereal. No consistent relationship between breakfast consumption patterns and total daily intakes of fat and sodium were found. It was concluded that breakfast, particularly breakfasts containing RTE cereal, made a valuable contribution to the nutritional quality of the diets of children and adolescents.
Understanding Anglers’ Willingness to Pay Under Alternative Management Regimes

Contingent valuation methods were used to estimate the net economic benefits of the recreational fishing experience for Atlantic bluefin tuna in Hatteras, North Carolina. We sought to understand anglers’ differential willingness-to-pay (and selected predictor variables) under various management scenarios that were more or less restrictive compared to status quo regulations. A mail survey was sent to anglers intercepted on site. Logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of a “Yes” response to a given set of management conditions and associated management costs (price). Estimates of the current catch management regime were valued from US $344 to $707 per year. Management scenarios that restricted angler flexibility (i.e., catch and release), were valued slightly lower than less restrictive catch management scenarios. This article discusses how willingness to pay estimates can be used to understand the relative values for users, recreational and commercial, of the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery.
Active galactic nuclei I. Observations and fundamental interpretations

Abstract Part I of this review summarizes astronomical observations of active galactic nuclei made in all bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. The objects receiving the greatest attention are quasars, radio galaxies, Seyfert galaxies and BL Lacertae objects, although other types of active galaxies are also discussed. Basic models for the powerhouses of these active galaxies are considered, with an emphasis placed on energy production efficiency, compactness and variability. The leading theories, which involve accretion of plasma onto supermassive black holes, are presented, and some of the evidence favoring these models over their rivals is discussed. The second part of this review will discuss the spectra produced by the various models in more detail, along with the production and collimation of jets in active galaxies. Part II will also examine in detail various schemes that purport to explain the variety of active galaxies in a unified fashion.
The Secretary: Invisible Labor in the Workworld of Women

Previous studies of secretarial work in organizations have reported a discrepancy between formally acknowledged roles and actual labor performed. In addition, many clerical jobs have been neither successfully routinized nor rationalized. As in other areas of women's work, articulation and categorization of tasks has been stunted by lack of language to adequately describe them. This analysis examines the character of secretarial work based on data from secretaries working in organizations of different size and at various levels of bureaucratic control. A typology of secretarial labor is presented that reflects a corresponding continuum of clear definition and formal recognition by organizations. Some of this ambiguity is accounted for by the fact that gender expectations are interwoven into the work role. Much of secretarial labor, including intellectual and emotional aspects of the work, are "invisible" to organizations, yet are essential to fulfilling organizational and professional goals.
Leukocyte pyruvate kinase expression is reduced in normal human pregnancy but not in pre-eclampsia

Citation Xu Y, Madsen-Bouterse SA, Romero R, Hassan S, Mittal P, Elfline M, Zhu A, Petty HR. Leukocyte pyruvate kinase expression is reduced in normal human pregnancy but not in pre-eclampsia. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 64: 137–151 Problem Emerging evidence suggests that metabolism influences immune cell signaling and immunoregulation. To examine the immunoregulatory role of glycolysis in pregnancy, we evaluated the properties of pyruvate kinase in leukocytes from non-pregnant women and those with normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. Method of study We evaluated pyruvate kinase expression in lymphocytes and neutrophils from non-pregnant, pregnant, and pre-eclampsia patients using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Leukocyte pyruvate kinase activity and pyruvate concentrations were also evaluated. To study pyruvate’s effect on signaling, we labeled Jurkat T cells with Ca2+ dyes and measured cell responses in the presence of agents influencing intracellular pyruvate. Results The expression of pyruvate kinase is reduced in lymphocytes and neutrophils from normal pregnant women in comparison with those of non-pregnant women and pre-eclampsia patients. Similarly, the activity of pyruvate kinase and the intracellular pyruvate concentration are reduced in leukocytes of normal pregnant women in comparison with non-pregnant women and women with pre-eclampsia. Using Jurkat cells as a model of leukocyte signaling, we have shown that perturbations of intracellular pyruvate influence Ca2+ signals. Conclusion Normal pregnancy is characterized by reduced pyruvate kinase expression within lymphocytes and neutrophils. We speculate that reduced pyruvate kinase expression modifies immune cell responses due to reduced pyruvate concentrations.
Reliability of environmental sampling culture results using the negative binomial intraclass correlation coefficient

The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) is commonly used to estimate the similarity between quantitative measures obtained from different sources. Overdispersed data is traditionally transformed so that linear mixed model (LMM) based ICC can be estimated. A common transformation used is the natural logarithm. The reliability of environmental sampling of fecal slurry on freestall pens has been estimated for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis using the natural logarithm transformed culture results. Recently, the negative binomial ICC was defined based on a generalized linear mixed model for negative binomial distributed data. The current study reports on the negative binomial ICC estimate which includes fixed effects using culture results of environmental samples. Simulations using a wide variety of inputs and negative binomial distribution parameters (r; p) showed better performance of the new negative binomial ICC compared to the ICC based on LMM even when negative binomial data was logarithm, and square root transformed. A second comparison that targeted a wider range of ICC values showed that the mean of estimated ICC closely approximated the true ICC.
Anal intercourse and HIV risk among low-income heterosexual women: findings from Chicago HIV behavioral surveillance.

Background: Anal intercourse (AI) is a highly efficient route for HIV transmission and has not been well elucidated among heterosexual (HET) women. Heterosexual women living in impoverished urban areas in the US are at increased risk for HIV acquisition. We aim to describe rates of AI and characteristics associated with AI among heterosexual women at increased risk for HIV acquisition living in Chicago. Methods: The Chicago Department of Public Health conducted a survey of HET during 2007 as part of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System. Venue-based, time-location sampling was used to select participants from venues in high-risk areas (census tracts with concurrently high rates of heterosexual AIDS and household poverty). Eligible participants were interviewed anonymously and offered a HIV test. Results: In total, 407 heterosexual women were interviewed. Seventy-one (17%) women reported having AI in the past 12 months, with 61 of the 71 (86%) reporting unprotected AI. In multivariate analysis, women who engaged in AI were more than three times as likely to have three or more sex partners in the past 12 months (OR=3.27, 95% CI 1.53-6.99). AI was also independently associated with STI diagnosis in the past 12 months (2.13, 95% CI 1.06-4.26), and having sexual intercourse for the first time before the age of 15 years (2.23, 95% CI 1.28-3.89). Conclusion: AI was associated with multiple high risk behaviors including a greater number of sexual partners, STI diagnosis, and earlier age at first sex. The combination of risk factors found to be associated with AI call for new HIV prevention services tailored to the needs of women and young girls living in poverty.
Gaussian beam decomposition of high frequency wave fields

In this paper, we present a method of decomposing a highly oscillatory wave field into a sparse superposition of Gaussian beams. The goal is to extract the necessary parameters for a Gaussian beam superposition from this wave field, so that further evolution of the high frequency waves can be computed by the method of Gaussian beams. The methodology is described for R^d with numerical examples for d=2. In the first example, a field generated by an interface reflection of Gaussian beams is decomposed into a superposition of Gaussian beams. The beam parameters are reconstructed to a very high accuracy. The data in the second example is not a superposition of a finite number of Gaussian beams. The wave field to be approximated is generated by a finite difference method for a geometry with two slits. The accuracy in the decomposition increases monotonically with the number of beams.
Efficient broadband Raman pulses for large-area atom interferometry

We report a demonstration of composite Raman pulses that achieve broadband population inversion and are used to increase the momentum splitting of an atom interferometer up to 18ℏk (corresponding to an increase in the inertial signal by a factor of nine). Composite Raman pulses suppress the effects of pulse length and detuning errors, providing higher transfer efficiency and velocity acceptance than single square pulses. We implement two composite pulse sequences, π/20°−π90°−π/20° and π/20°−π180°−3π/20°, and use the latter composite pulse to demonstrate large-area atom interferometry with stimulated Raman transitions. In addition to enabling larger momentum transfer and higher sensitivity, we argue that composite pulses can improve the robustness of atom interferometers operating in dynamic environments.
Mothers’ Perceptions of the Quality of Their Infants’ Back Transfer

Objective: To describe mothers’ experiences with back transfer of their infants from a neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) to a community hospital (CH). Design: Descriptive correlational study. Participants: One hundred forty-three mothers whose infants were back transferred from regional NICUs to 1 of 20 Level I or Level II CHs. Main Outcome Measures: Quality of back transfer was measured by the NICU/CH Transfer Quality Scale developed by the investigators. Overall level of stress related to back transfer was also measured. Results: More positive experiences with the NICU component of back transfer were related to fewer perceived differences in physician practice between NICUs and CH settings and fewer infant problems after transfer (R 2 = 8.1%, p = .007). More positive experiences with the CH component of back transfer were related to fewer perceived differences in nursing and medical practices between settings; fewer infant problems after transfer; and more sources of pretransfer preparation (R 2 = 33.4%, p (R 2 = 8.8%, p = .01). Conclusion: Results support the need for consistency of care and coordinated approaches to back transfer.
AFTA: a formal delay model for functional thinking analysis

Despite its importance, we find that a rigorous theoretical foundation for performing timing analysis has been lacking so far. As a result, we have initiated a research project that aims to provide such a foundation for functional timing analysis. As part of this work we have developed an abstract automaton based delay model that accounts for the various analog factors affecting delay, such as signals slopes, near simultaneous switching, etc., while at the same timweb accounting for circuit functionality. This paper presents this delay model
Origin of basal activity in mammalian olfactory receptor neurons.

Mammalian odorant receptors form a large, diverse group of G protein–coupled receptors that determine the sensitivity and response profile of olfactory receptor neurons. But little is known if odorant receptors control basal and also stimulus-induced cellular properties of olfactory receptor neurons other than ligand specificity. This study demonstrates that different odorant receptors have varying degrees of basal activity, which drives concomitant receptor current fluctuations and basal action potential firing. This basal activity can be suppressed by odorants functioning as inverse agonists. Furthermore, odorant-stimulated olfactory receptor neurons expressing different odorant receptors can have strikingly different response patterns in the later phases of prolonged stimulation. Thus, the influence of odorant receptor choice on response characteristics is much more complex than previously thought, which has important consequences on odor coding and odor information transfer to the brain.
Cardiorenal Syndrome: A Cardiologist's Perspective of Pathophysiology

Summary The cardiorenal syndrome has recently been defined as “disorders of the heart and kidney whereby acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other.” The syndrome is extremely common and independently associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, no pharmacological therapy has been shown to improve its outcomes. Unfortunately, the mechanisms that initiate the development of renal dysfunction in heart failure are still debated. This review tries to clarify some of the misunderstanding regarding the principle hemodynamic factors that drive the kidneys to retain salt and water. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 8: 1800–1807, 2013. doi: 10.2215/CJN.04090413
TRENDS IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE EUGLENID PELLICLE

Trends in the evolution of the euglenid pellicle were described using phylogenetic methods on 18S rDNA, morphological, and combined data from 25 mostly phototrophic taxa. The tree topology from a total-evidence analysis formed a template for a synthetic tree that took into account conflicting results derived from the partitioned datasets. Pellicle character states that can only be observed with the assistance of transmission and scanning electron microscopy were phylogenetically mapped onto the synthetic tree to test a set of previously established homology statements (inferences made independently from a cladogram). The results permitted us to more confidently infer the ancestral-derived polarities of character state transformations and provided a framework for understanding the key cytoskeletal innovations associated with the evolution of phototrophic euglenids. We specifically addressed the character evolution of (1) the maximum number of pellicle strips around the cell periphery; (2) the patterns of terminating strips near the cell posterior end; (3) the substructural morphology of pellicle strips; (4) the morphology of the cell posterior tip; and (5) patterns of pellicle pores on the cell surface.
Sex change in plants: Old and new observations and new hypotheses

Evidence is presented that individuals of a large number of dioecious and subdioecious plant species are able to alter their sexual state in response to changes in the ambient environment and/or changes in size or age. We suggest that lability of sexual expression probably has survival value where a significant portion of the females must otherwise bear the cost of fruit production in unfavorable environments. We demonstrate that in patchy environments of the proper scale and variability in quality, labile sexual expression will enhance an individual's genetic contribution to the next generation.
Minimal Brain Dysfunction Differences in Cognitive Organization in Two Groups of Index Cases and Their Relatives

The results of a comparative study of hyperactive and specific-reading-disabled children and their families are presented. The cognitive profiles of the two types of index cases reveal substantial differences. The data suggest that the learning problems frequently noted in hyperactive children are probably more similar to those found in a group which Yule (1972) calls “backward readers” than to those of the specific-reading-disabled children. Further differences between the two groups of index cases were noted in family background variables, such as familial incidence of psychopathology and criminal behavior, family history of hyperactivity, and family history of reading disability.
Mechanically driven millimeter source of nanosecond X-ray pulses

The emission of nanosecond pulses of ≈20 keV photons having a total energy of GeVs which are generated by peeling millimeter wide strips of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape in a partial pressure of air (≈10−3 Torr) is demonstrated. The X-ray spectrum is similar to that obtained by peeling much wider bands of PSA, implying that the characteristic length for the sequence of processes that govern this phenomenon is less than 1 mm. These experiments demonstrate that MEMS-type X-ray generators are technologically feasible.
Stress Characterization in Si/SiO2 Spherical Shells Used in Micro-robotics

An in-depth parametric and stress analysis study was accomplished using CoventorWare™finite element method (FEM) modeling to evaluate 1–3 μm thick Si/SiO2 layers which are being used to create spherical shells of 1.0 mm in diameter to be used as a baseline for realizing cubic millimeter micro-robotics. FEM was performed on spherical shells to optimize both the level of curvature of the petal designs which, once released, deflect upward to create one component of the fully self assembled spherical shell. In addition, FEM modeling was used to determine petal spacing in an effort to maximize the total functional surface area of the self-assembled spheres for future circuit integration and electrostatic actuation which will enhance shell movement. As expected, the radius of curvature of the petal is primarily based on the design of the petal, material thicknesses, and residual stresses in the structural layers. Four different petal designs were analyzed, modeled and fabricated to determine which petal design would likely satisfy the self assembly requirement and desired spherical shape. To fabricate the shells, both bulk and thin-film micromachining processes were performed on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. To release the spherical shells from the substrate, a multistage wet and dry etching process was used. Once the petals are released, the petals curl up, self-assembling into spherical shells.
Image solution for vertical motion of a point source towards a free surface

The vertical constant-speed motion of a constant-strength point source towards a horizontal free boundary is analysed. A procedure based on expansions in even powers of the Froude number is employed. The asymptotic expansion of the potential is found to satisfy a simple differential equation, which, when integrated, yields an image-type solution valid for all Froude numbers. Froude-number effects are contained in a distribution of sources along the vertical line from the image of the submerged source with respect to the undisturbed free surface upward to infinity. The solution is valid for arbitrary values of the density ratio across the free surface.
A truly national National Violent Death Reporting System

In the wake of the December shooting deaths of 28 people in Newtown, Connecticut, the White House on 16 January of this year released the administration's plan to reduce gun violence.1 While its centrepiece is a set of legislative initiatives, the plan also seeks to build a strong data foundation from which to learn how best to prevent firearm violence into the future. A notable component of the plan calls on the US Congress to provide an additional $20 million in annual funding to expand the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to all 50 states. NVDRS is currently in place in 18 states, where the system is used to collect comprehensive data on suicide and homicide, the number two and three causes of death among people under 40.2 Funding for expansion of NVDRS now rests in the hands of Congress. Assuring that Congress provides this funding should be a priority for the US injury prevention community. Why? The history,3 characteristics4 and strengths5 of NVDRS have been described elsewhere. In brief, NVDRS provides far more detailed, accessible and actionable data to guide prevention and policy than are available from the individual data sources that it links together, including death certificates, medical examiner/coroner reports and police records. In states without NVDRS, much of the rich information that has been painstakingly collected by these sources languishes unlinked and underused in file folders or computer systems that do not speak to one another. The NVDRS solves this problem. The need for high quality data on violent death was apparent to Congress in 2002 when the system was first funded and is no less important now as Congress seeks solutions to the problem of mass public shootings and other gun violence. In contrast to data …
Metabolic syndrome and urinary stone composition: what factors matter most?

Objective To determine which metabolic syndrome (MetS) factors lead to differences in stone composition in a multivariate analysis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of patients who had a kidney stone removed over a 5-year period (2006-2011). MetS factors (obesity [body mass index {BMI} >30], diabetes mellitus [DM], hypertension [HTN], and dyslipidemia [DLD]) were tallied in each patient. For the latter 3 factors, medical treatment for the condition was used to tag a patient with the condition. Stone composition was determined by the dominant (>50%) component. Statistical analysis was designed to determine which MetS factors were independently associated with differences in stone composition. Results Five hundred ninety kidney stones were included in the analysis. Patients with MetS had a higher prevalence of uric acid stones and lower prevalence of calcium phosphate stones. HTN and DM were independently associated with differences in composition, specifically uric acid stones (higher proportion), and calcium phosphate stones (lower proportion). Obesity was not associated with differences in composition, although a secondary analysis of morbidly obese patients showed a higher proportion of uric acid stones and a lower proportion of calcium oxalate stones. Conclusion HTN and DM are the MetS factors independently associated with differences in stone composition, specifically the uric acid and calcium phosphate components. Obesity has little effect on stone composition until a very high (>40) BMI is reached. The overall effect of MetS factors on stone type is relatively small, because most stones are calcium oxalate and MetS factors have little impact on calcium oxalate frequency.
The morphic Abel–Jacobi map

The morphic Abel–Jacobi map is the analogue of the classical Abel–Jacobi map one obtains by using Lawson and morphic (co)homology in place of the usual singular (co)homology. It thus gives a map from the group of -cycles on a complex variety that are algebraically equivalent to zero to a certain ‘Jacobian’ built from the Lawson homology groups viewed as inductive limits of mixed Hodge structures. In this paper, we define the morphic Abel–Jacobi map, establish its foundational properties, and then apply these results to the study of algebraic cycles. In particular, we show the classical Abel–Jacobi map (when restricted to cycles algebraically equivalent to zero) factors through the morphic version, and show that the morphic version detects cycles that cannot be detected by its classical counterpart; that is, we give examples of cycles in the kernel of the classical Abel–Jacobi map that are not in the kernel of the morphic version. We also investigate the behavior of the morphic Abel–Jacobi map on the torsion subgroup of the Chow group of cycles algebraically equivalent to zero modulo rational equivalence.
Mensurando Valor e Performance na Prestação de Serviços Sociais

Este ensaio trata do valor contido na acao social e a performance da organizacao que a oferece, questoes estas presentes na agenda dos dirigentes e dos seus patrocinadores. Para tanto sao apresentados os conceitos de valor e performance e como avalia-los e desenvolvidos indicadores que permitem avaliar o impacto social das acoes. Os passos para criar e implementar a sistematica de avaliacao para atender estas demandas serao apresentados e discutidos. Finalmente, serao indicadas as qualidades essenciais do dirigente social para utilizar os indicadores de valor e performance para avaliar o alcance de suas acoes e da missao da organizacao social que dirige. Dois sao os pressupostos norteadores deste ensaio: a) resultados inovadores sao criados a partir de estrategias sociais bem concebidas e gestao competente dos recursos e b) so e possivel gerenciar aquilo que se pode mensurar e nao se pode medir aquilo que nao se pode descrever.