cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sexual Minority, Justice-Involved Youth: A Hidden Population in Need of Integrated Mental Health, Substance Use, and Sexual Health Services

Abstract Purpose We sought to compare the demographic characteristics, drug and alcohol use, sexual behaviors, delinquency, and mental health indicators of sexual minority and nonsexual minority first-time offending, court-involved, nonincarcerated adolescents. Methods Using adolescent- and caregiver-reported baseline data from the Epidemiologic Study Involving Children in the Court, a prospective cohort study of 423 adolescent-caregiver dyads recruited from a Northeastern family court system, we compared demographic and behavioral health characteristics of sexual minority and nonsexual minority first-time offending, court-involved, nonincarcerated adolescents. Results Nearly one-third of the adolescents (31.4%, n = 133) were classified as a sexual minority; 19.6% (n = 81) self-identified with a nonheterosexual sexual orientation. Sexual minority adolescents were more likely than their nonsexual minority peers to identify as female, to have used psychiatric services or psychotropic medications, to have used an illicit drug or alcohol or to know peers who use these substances, to report alcohol/drug use during sex, to endorse more severe mental health problems, to have more recent post-traumatic symptoms, and to have engaged in self-harm behaviors. However, sexual minority adolescents did not differ from nonsexual minority adolescents in other demographic characteristics (including school performance) or delinquent behavior. Conclusions One-third of court-involved, nonincarcerated adolescents may be sexual minorities. Specificscreening methods are necessary to identify these adolescents and to address their unique risk characteristics, which include more severe mental health difficulties and higher rates of high-risk sexual behavior and drug/alcohol use compared with their nonsexual minority peers.
Error-adaptive modeling of streaming time-series data using radial basis functions

Abstract We propose an error-adaptive method for constructing time-series models for novelty detection using radial basis functions. The optimization problem is implemented in an incremental, or online manner, and permits the balancing of the quality of the data fit and the sparsity of the model in the objective function of a linear program. The resulting algorithm is applied to several examples of streaming time-series data. Novel data points are identified using an infeasibility criterion while feasible data points are not used for training and may be discarded. In practice, only a small fraction of observed streaming data points are actually required to update the model. The sparsity promoting term in the objective function serves to determine the location and number of RBFs required to fit the data. Balancing sparsity with the accuracy of the model allows the user to adjust model complexity. It appears that the ability to adapt the error bound in the optimization problem may help to prevent over-fitting. We illustrate the approach with several examples and show that the fitting procedure is robust to additive Gaussian noise with non-stationary variance. We compare the proposed algorithm with several other methods in the literature, including both online and batch algorithms.
How Much Does Experience Matter in NCAA Division I Volleyball? A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between years of collegiate playing experience and success of NCAA Division I volleyball programs. Methods: Data were gathered from the 2010–2015 seasons for e...
Ian Kumekawa, The First Serious Optimist: A.C. Pigou and the Birth of Welfare Economics

Abctract. Before there was Keynes, there was Pigou. Both students of the acclaimed Alfred Marshall, both went on to make foundational contributions to economic thought. Keynes’s star in macroeconomics surpassed Pigou, but Pigou’s contribution to micro and welfare economics are pinnacles in their own right. The late 19 th and early 20 th century Cambridge economics faculty is frequently over looked by the more recent developments in economics by the University of Chicago and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Keywords. Welfare economics. JEL. D60, H63, H75, I30.
Reflection as self-care: models for facilitative supervision

Clinical supervision is essential for ethical and competent clinical practice and is a component of professional self-care. Reflective supervision can facilitate the development of skills in profes...
Testing the validity and clinical utility of the severity specifiers for binge-eating disorder for predicting treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To test the validity and clinical utility of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) severity specifiers for binge-eating disorder (BED) in predicting treatment outcomes. METHOD Participants (N = 521) were patients in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) at 1 medical center testing treatments for BED; data were aggregated from RCTs testing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral weight loss (BWL), and/or multimodal (i.e., CBT or BWL plus pharmacotherapy) treatment. Participants were categorized according to DSM-5 severity specifiers for BED: "mild" (n = 273; 52.5%), "moderate" (n = 182; 34.9%), and "severe/extreme" (n = 58; 11.1%). Participants had their weight and height measured and were assessed using established interviews and self-report measures at baseline, throughout treatment, and post treatment. RESULTS Mixed models revealed that severity category did not significantly predict treatment response. However, there were main effects of BED severity category: "Severe/extreme" BED had greater binge-eating frequency and had greater global eating-disorder psychopathology than did "mild" BED across all time points. "Severe/extreme" BED was less likely to have remission from binge eating than was "mild" BED. Weight loss and depression scores did not significantly differ by severity category. CONCLUSION In a large series of treatment-seeking individuals with BED aggregated across RCTs at 1 medical center testing psychological and pharmacological treatments for BED, DSM-5 severity specifiers for BED had limited validity and utility predicting response to treatments. Future research is needed to identify more robust severity indicators with clinical utility to inform future DSM revisions and clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Individual differences in executive function partially explain the socioeconomic gradient in middle‐school academic achievement

Children from families with low socioeconomic status (SES) earn lower grades, perform worse on achievement tests, and attain less education on average than their peers from higher-SES families. We evaluated neurocognitive mediators of SES disparities in achievement in a diverse sample of youth whose data were linked to administrative records of performance on school-administered tests of 7th grade reading and math proficiency (N = 203). We used structural equation modeling to evaluate whether associations between SES (measured at ages 8-9) and achievement (measured at age 13) are mediated by verbal ability and executive function (measured at age 10), a suite of top-down mental processes that facilitate control of thinking and behavior. Children from relatively higher-SES families performed better than their lower-SES peers on all neurocognitive and achievement measures, and SES disparities in both reading and math achievement were partially mediated by variation in executive function, but not verbal ability. SES disparities in executive function explained approximately 37% of the SES gap in math achievement and 17% of the SES gap in reading achievement. Exploratory modeling suggests that SES-related variation in working memory may play a particularly prominent role in mediation. We discuss potential implications of these findings for research, intervention programming, and classroom practice.
GLOBAL LONGITUDINAL STRAIN PREDICTS PROGRESSIVE HEART FAILURE IN NONOBSTRUCTIVE HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

An important subset of nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients develop progressive and unrelenting heart failure refractory to pharmacologic treatment with preserved ejection fraction (EF). However, reliable markers for development of such symptom progression are not well
Generation of Multiply Charged Protein Anions from Multiply Charged Protein Cations via Gas-Phase Ion/Ion Reactions.

We report a novel charge inversion ion/ion reaction that converts multiply charged protein cations to multiply charged protein anions via a single ion/ion collision using highly charged anions deri...
Reliability and Validity Assessment: New Approaches

The quality of measurement is considered the sine qua non of research in all sciences. In the social sciences, the concern with measurement quality is critical because theoretical constructs are unobserved and often elusive. In order to evaluate the quality of measurement in these fields, it is necessary to, first, develop a model that specifies the linkage between observations and the latent variable(s) of interest; second, to develop a research design that permits the estimation of parameters of such a model; and third, to develop an interpretation of these parameters that is consistent with the concepts of measurement quality. Several traditions exist for the formulation of such models that relate observed to unobserved variables, and the concepts of reliability and validity are often used to interpret the quality of measurement from such designs. This article discusses the traditional techniques of reliability and validity assessment and briefly presents some new approaches to evaluating the properties of individual measures that are aimed at measuring theoretical constructs of interest.
A behavioral explanation of credit ratings and leverage adjustments

Abstract We study the effect of firms’ credit rating changes on their leverage adjustments. We consider behavioral (the prospect theory) and firm-related factors to converge the divergent views on firms’ capital structure. Our position is novel and not in the vein of the prior literature. The adjustment speed is insensitive to the credit rating changes for the under-levered firms. For the over-levered firms, being near a credit rating downgrade has a positive effect on the adjustment speed. However, being near a credit rating upgrade does have any impact. Also, a credit downgrade (upgrade) has a positive (negative) impact on the adjustment speeds of the over-levered firms. The over-levered firms that experience a credit downgrade struggle to regain their previous ratings by reducing leverage at a faster rate. In most cases, the firms’ reactions to credit rating changes are in line with the loss aversion aspect of the prospect theory.
Using Analog Tasks to Assess Children's Social Communication Skills

Purpose This tutorial addresses the use of analog tasks to assess social communication abilities in toddlers through adolescents. In analog tasks, clinicians manufacture situations that give rise t...
A Prospective Clinical Trial Comparing Surgical Fixation Versus Nonoperative Management of Minimally Displaced Complete Lateral Compression Pelvis Fractures.

OBJECTIVE To compare the early pain and functional outcomes of operative fixation versus nonoperative management for minimally displaced complete lateral compression (LC; OTA/AO 61-B1/B2) pelvic fractures. DESIGN Prospective clinical trial. SETTING Two academic trauma centers. PATIENTS Forty-eight adult patients with LC pelvic ring injuries with <10 mm of displacement were treated nonoperatively and 47 with surgical fixation. Sixty percent of participants were randomized. Seventy-three percent of the fractures were displaced <5 mm, and 71% were LC-1 patterns. INTERVENTION Operative fixation versus nonoperative management. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was patient-reported pain using the 10-point Brief Pain Inventory. Functional outcome was measured using the Majeed pelvic score. Outcomes were analyzed using hierarchical Bayesian models to compare the average treatment effect from injury to 12 and 52 weeks postinjury. The probability of the mean treatment benefit exceeding a clinically important difference was determined. RESULTS The 3-month average treatment effect of surgery compared with nonoperative management was a 1.2-point reduction in pain [95% credible interval (CrI): 0.4-1.9] and an 8% absolute improvement in the Majeed score (95% CrI: 3%-14%). Similar results persisted to 1 year. Patients with initial fracture displacement ≥5 mm experienced a larger reduction in pain (2.2, 95% CrI: 0.9-3.5) compared with those patients with less initial displacement (0.9, 95% CrI: 0.1-1.8). CONCLUSION On average, surgical fixation likely provides a small improvement in pain and functional outcome for up to 12 months. Patients with ≥5 mm of posterior pelvic ring displacement are more likely to experience clinically important improvements in pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Ethical Considerations of Wearable Technologies in Human Research

Wearable technologies hold great promise for disease diagnosis and patient care. Despite the flourishing research activities in this field, only a handful of wearable devices are commercialized and cleared for medical usage. The successful translation of current proof-of-concept prototypes requires extensive in-human testing. There is a lag between current standards and operation protocols to guide the responsible and ethical conduct of researchers in such in-human studies and the rapid development of the field. This essay presents relevant ethical concerns in early-stage human research from a researcher's perspective.
Burning Rate Characterization of Guanidine Nitrate and Basic Copper Nitrate Gas Generants with Metal Oxide Additives

Automotive airbag gas generants have been studied extensively to meet design and safety requirements. Additives have historically been used to increase their burning rates, but the effects of addit...
Workplace violence in the emergency department: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Objectives Emergency departments (EDs) currently face a widely acknowledged issue of workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare workers (HCWs). WPV in the ED occurs in different forms and from different types of instigators; its prevalence also varies in different regions of the world. This study investigates the incidence of WPV among ED staff and identifies the types of instigators involved. Study design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Using PubMed and SCOPUS databases, a search for WPV against ED physicians and nurses was conducted, yielding 301 articles. Studies were excluded if measuring violence between HCWs or against prehospital personnel. Studies assessing WPV not in the ED, such as domestic violence that occurred before arrival to the ED, and studies investigating violence involving alcohol/drug use or individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis were also excluded. This study used a random-effects meta-analysis to examine the prevalence of WPV in the ED, including types of violence, instigators, and professions of the victims. Results In total, 26 articles were selected for this study. There were 9072 cases of WPV in the ED; 6575 (72%) cases involved verbal violence and 1639 (18%) related to physical abuse. Among the ED workers involved, 2112 (36.5%) were physicians, 3225 (55.7%) were nurses and 455 (7.8%) other ED staff. There were 2578 instigators, of whom 1340 (52%) were family members, 700 (27%) were patients and 538 (21%) were other relatives/friends. The overall prevalence of verbal violence was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72–0.82, I2 = 87%), suggesting 77% of ED staff reported exposure to WPV. The prevalence of violence from patients as instigators was 0.24 (95% CI: 0.18–31, I2 = 93%). Conclusions WPV in the ED is a serious issue as most nurses and physicians are significantly exposed to verbal and/or physical abuse. Further studies should focus on factors influencing the different types of WPV, which ED professions are most at risk and interventions to prevent WPV in the ED.
Data Management System for Organic Soil

This paper describes a Data Management System for Organic Soil (DMSOS) that enables the acquisition, management, and analysis of organic soil data as well as the presentation of results to be conducted effectively through a common interface. This development was in response to the data management needs of research investigating the engineering properties of organic soil and its extension to the stabilization of organic soil through dynamic replacement (DR). This system uses Windows-based software to perform comprehensive data management and analysis of data gathered from both lab and field tests.
Narrow band gap conjugated polymers for emergent optoelectronic technologies

Conjugated organic molecules effectively produce and harvest visible light and find utility in a variety of emergent optoelectronic technologies. There is currently interest in expanding the scope of these materials to extend functionality into the infrared (IR) spectral regions and endow functionality relevant in emergent technologies. Developing an understanding of the interplay between chemical and electronic structure in these systems will require control of the frontier orbital energetics (separation, position, and alignment), ground state electronic configurations, inter chain arrangements, solid-state properties, and many other molecular features with synthetic precision that has yet to be demonstrated. Bridgehead imine substituted 4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene (CPDT) structural units, in combination with strong acceptors with progressively delocalized π-systems, afford modular donor-acceptor copolymers with broad and long wavelength absorption that spans technologically relevant wavelength (λ) ranges from 0.7 < λ < 3.2 μm.1 Here we demonstrate that electronic and structural manipulation play a major role in influencing the energetics of these systems and ultimately controlling the band gap of the materials. These results bear implication in the development of very narrow band gap systems where precise control will be necessary for achieving desired properties such as interactions with longer wavelength light.
A new system for observing solar oscillations at the Mount Wilson Observatory

In this paper we describe a new observing system which is currently nearing completation at the Mount Wilson Observatory. This system has been designed to obtain daily measurements of solar photospheric and subphotospheric rotational velocities from the frequency splitting of non-radial solar p-mode oscillations of moderate to high degree (i.e. l > 150). The completed system will combine a 244 × 248 pixel CID camera with a high-speed floating point array processor, a 32-bit minicomputer, and a large-capacity disc storage system. We are integrating these components into the spectrograph of the 60-foot solar tower telescope at Mount Wilson in order to provide a facility which will be dedicated to the acquisition of oscillation data.
Genomic selection of purebred animals for crossbred performance under dominance

Crossbreeding is extensively used to take advantage of heterosis and breed complementarity. In livestock, purebreds (PB) that are crossed to produce the commercial crossbreds (CC) are typically raised under superior management conditions. Thus, due to genetic and environmental differences, performance of PB can be a poor predictor of CC performance. Genomic selection (GS) with training on CC performance may overcome this problem, but in most GS studies additive gene action has been assumed yet dominance is the likely basis for heterosis.
Neutron-hole strength distributions in heavy nuclei: (II). The 144, 148, 152Sm(3He, α) 143, 147, 151Sm and the 144, 148, 150, 152, 154Sm(p, d) 143, 147, 149, 151, 153Sm reactions

Abstract Valence and deep-lying neutron-hole strengths corresponding to orbits near and well below the Fermi surface have been observed in high-resolution studies of the 144, 148, 152 Sm( 3 He, α) and of the 144, 148, 150, 152, 154 Sm(p, d) reactions at 70 and 42 MeV bombarding energy, respectively. The explored excitation energy range was 28 MeV for the ( 3 He, α) experiment and about 12 MeV in the (p, d) study. Complete angular distributions have been measured in both cases and the data was analyzed within the framework of the distorted waves Born approximation theory of direct reactions. For the neutron closed shell target ( 144 Sm), in addition to the well-known fragmentation of the 2d 5 2 and 1g 7 2 valence-hole strength, a new bump observed around 7.6 MeV excitation energy is excited in both reactions. This structure corresponds to the 1g 9 2 inner-hole strength in 143 Sm and the analysis of the ( 3 He, α) data suggests that more than 50% of the l = 4 strength can be found between 6 and 12 MeV. When one goes to the heavier Sm isotopes, the energy spacing between valence-hole states located above and just below the N = 82 shell decreases strongly and disappears in 151 Sm as a result of increasing deformation. Combining good energy resolution and detailed analysis of the two reactions, rather complete spectroscopic information is obtained for the valence-hole strength distributions. With regard to inner-hole states, the energy spectra exhibit a narrow structure whose centroid energy decreases from 4.4 to 2.9 MeV when the mass number increases from A = 147 to A = 153. The main peak displays an asymmetric shape with an extremely large high-energy tail. The 1h 11 2 hole strength is split into the Nilsson Orbitals. The narrow bumps are found to carry a large fraction of the l = 5 and l = 2 hole strengths in 147,149,151,152 Sm isotopes. In the high-energy tail of the structures one observes overlapping and increasing spreading of the g 7 2 , 2d 5 2 and possibly 1g 9 2 inner-hole strengths due to the disappearance of the N = 82 shell gap between N = 83 and N = 89 neutron numbers. The experimental hole strengths distributions are compared where possible to the predictions of the quasiparticle-phonon nuclear model or to the simple Nilsson model.
Thermal Modeling of the Lithium/Polymer Battery I . Discharge Behavior of a Single Cell

Two models are presented to predict the thermal behavior of the lithium/polymer battery. Part 1 presents the one-cell model, a one-dimensional model for predicting the thermal behavior of the lithium negative electrode/solid polymer separator/insertion positive electrode cell. Part 2 presents the cell/stack model, a one-dimensional model that uses variable heat-generation rates calculated by the one-cell mode to predict temperature profiles in cell stacks. The one-cell model, presented in Part 1, is based on the model of Doyle et al. with the addition of an energy balance in the form given by Bernardi et al. Physical properties are allowed to vary with temperature. The model is general and can be used to simulate a wide rang of polymeric separator materials, lithium salts, and composite insertion electrodes. Simulation results for the Li/PEO{sub 15}-LiCF{sub 3}SO{sub 3}{vert_bar}TiS{sub 2} system are presented for isothermal operation at several temperatures and adiabatic operation at several discharge rates. Heat transfer to the surroundings is considered by defining a position-dependent heat-transfer coefficient for various cells in a cell stack.
Electron beams and Langmuir turbulence in solar type III radio bursts observed in the interplanetary medium

Results are presented of in situ observations of electron beams, plasma waves, and associated solar type II radio emission in the interplanetary medium near 1 AU, which were provided by the ISEE-3 spacecraft. It is shown that electron beams are formed by the faster electrons arriving before the slower ones, following an impulsive injection at the sun. The resulting bump-on-tail in the reduced 1D distribution function is unstable to the growth of electrostatic electron plasma (Langmuir) waves. The Langmuir waves are observed to be highly impulsive in nature. The onset and temporal variations of the observed plasma waves are in good qualitative agreement with the wave growth expected from the evolution of the measured 1D distribution function. The lack of obvious plateauing of the bump-on-tail suggests that the waves were removed from resonance with the beam electrons by some wave-wave interaction.
Didanosine reduces atevirdine absorption in subjects with human immunodeficiency virus infections.

Atevirdine is a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor with in vitro activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and is currently in phase II clinical trials. Atevirdine is most soluble at a pH of < 2, and therefore, normal gastric acidity is most likely necessary for optimal bioavailability. Because of the rapid development of resistance in vitro, atevirdine is being evaluated in combination with didanosine and/or zidovudine in both two- and three-drug combination regimens. To examine the influence of concurrent didanosine (buffered tablet formulation) on the disposition of atevirdine, 12 human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected subjects (mean CD4+ cell count, 199 cells per mm3; range, 13 to 447 cells/mm3) participated in a three-way, partially randomized, crossover, single-dose study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of didanosine and atevirdine when each drug was given alone (treatments A and B, respectively) versus concurrently (treatment C). Concurrent administration of didanosine and atevirdine significantly reduced the maximum concentration of atevirdine in serum from 3.45 +/- 2.8 to 0.854 +/- 0.33 microM (P = 0.004). Likewise, the mean atevirdine area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h after administration of the combination was reduced to 6.47 +/- 2.2 microM.h (P = 0.004) relative to a value of 11.3 +/- 4.8 microM.h for atevirdine alone. Atevirdine had no statistically significant effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters of didanosine. Concurrent administration of single doses of atevirdine and didanosine resulted in a markedly lower maximum concentration of atevirdine in serum and area under the concentration-time curve, with a minimal effect on the disposition of didanosine. It is unknown whether an interaction of similar magnitude would occur under steady-state conditions; thus, combination regimens which include both atevirdine and didanosine should be designed so that their administration times are separated. Since the duration of the buffering effect of didanosine formulations is unknown, atevirdine should be given prior to didanosine.
Color image-sequence compression using adaptive binary-tree vector quantization with codebook replenishment

We present a new adaptive vector-quantization scheme with codebook replenishment for color image-sequence compression in this paper. This scheme uses mean/residual vector quantization with binary-tree search algorithm to vector-quantize the Y component and the low-passed I and Q components of color images. It also incorporates an objective criteria for codebook replenishment. The mean and label replenishment technique is also applied to further reduce the bit-rate. Computer simulations on two 60-frame, 512 × 512 color image-sequences have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
A multimedia-workshop learning environment for statics

We are developing a cooperative learning environment in the subject area of statics that combines hands-on experiments with interactive multimedia in the framework of experiential learning. The project is part of the National Science Foundation's Southeastern University and College Coalition for Engineering Education (SUCCEED), which is committed to a comprehensive revitalization of undergraduate engineering education for the 21st Century. We discuss elements of the workshop environment and illustrate how students are guided through the four stages of experiential learning to discover the method of joints for the analysis of trusses.
Association between peak serum bilirubin and neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants

Objective. To assess the association between peak total serum bilirubin (PSB) levels during the first 2 weeks of life and neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants at 18 to 22 months' postmenstrual age. Methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted of a cohort of ELBW infants (401-1000 g) who survived to 14 days of age in the 12 participating centers of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1997. Demographic and clinical risk factors and PSB levels during the first 14 days were analyzed with reference to death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 to 22 months' postmenstrual age. The neurodevelopmental variables considered were Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) <70, Mental Developmental Index (MDI) <70, moderate or severe cerebral palsy (CP), hearing impairment (needs hearing aids), and a composite category designated as neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). The NDI is defined as infants with any 1 or more of the following: PDI <70, MDI <70, moderate to severe CP, bilateral blindness, or bilateral hearing impairment requiring amplification. Results. The subjects of this cohort analysis are infants who were admitted to the Network centers during calendar years 1994-1997 and survived beyond 14 days and had PSB recorded during the 14-day period. From this cohort, 3246 infants survived at discharge, 79 died after discharge, and 592 were lost to follow-up. Thus, 2575 of 3167 infants were seen in the follow-up clinics with a compliance rate of 81%. Logistic regression analysis showed that various demographic and clinical variables are associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. After adjustment for these risk factor, significant association were found between PSB (mg/dL) and death or NDI (odds ratio: 1.068; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.11); PDI <70 (R = 1.057; 95% CI: 1.00-1.12), and hearing impairment requiring hearing aids (odds ratio: 1138; 95% CI: 1.00-1.30). There was no significant association between PSB (mg/dL) and CP, MDI <70, and NDI. Conclusions. PSB concentrations during the first 2 weeks of life are directly correlated with death or NDI, hearing impairment, and PDI <70 in ELBW infants. The statistical association based on retrospective analysis of observational data and relatively small effect size should be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, because of the possibility of compounding effects of variables on outcome, the potential benefits of moderate hyperbilirubinemia and the potential adverse effects of phototherapy, a randomized, controlled trial of aggressive and conservative phototherapy is needed to address this controversial issue.
Gene expression after intrarenal injection of plasmid DNA in the rat.

Effective gene therapy requires efficient delivery and expression of the necessary genetic information to the target tissue. We demonstrate here that plasmid DNA, injected as naked, uncomplexed DNA into the cortical region of rat kidney, or intravenously, is localized and expressed in the kidney. The plasmid pRSVZ contained the Rous sarcoma virus promoter and a reporter gene, the β-galactosidase gene, derived from bacteria. The β-galactosidase gene hydrolyzes the artificial substrate X-gal to produce an intense blue color in cells that have taken up and expressed the plasmid genes. We have used X-gal staining and Western blotting to study plasmid gene expression 1, 4, and 8 days and 6 months after intrarenal injection of 50 µg of plasmid DNA and at 1 and 4 days after intravenous injection. Expression was apparent in the kidneys and several other tissues 24 h after injection and persisted for at least 8 days; expressed proteins could still be detected in the injected kidney 6 months later. These observations were corroborated by use of a plasmid, pEGFP-Puro, harboring the cytomegalovirus promoter in conjunction with a different reporter gene, the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Histological localization and Western blotting analysis of GFP expression after intrarenal injection of pEGFP-Puro paralleled results obtained with the plasmid pRSVZ. Our findings support the suggestion that intrarenal or intravenous injection of naked plasmid DNA may be an effective means of delivering therapeutic genes to the kidney and several other tissues.
In situ remediation of soils contaminated with toxic metal ions using microwave energy

Abstract Following onto our work on the in situ remediation of soils contaminated with PAH’s, PCB’s and other polychlorinated organic compounds using microwave energy, we now report a preliminary investigation on the in situ remediation of soils contaminated with toxic metal ions: Cd(II), Mn(II), Th(IV), Cr(III) and mainly Cr(VI). The soil is partially vitrified in the process, and extraction with hot (70 °C) 35% nitric acid for 4.5 h leads to the recovery of very small amounts of the metals which had been spiked into the clean soil: Cd, Mn, and Cr(III) are completely immobilized (unextractable), Th is mostly unextractable, and Cr(VI) partially extractable at very high levels of spiking, but almost completely unextractable using the US EPA Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. This suggests that contaminated soils which are not going to be used for agricultural purposes can be remediated safely to preset depths without fear of the toxic metal ions leaching out for a long time.
Tissue-specific Rescue Suggests That Placental Adenosine Deaminase Is Important for Fetal Development in Mice

Adenosine deaminase (ADA, EC 3.5.4.4) is an essential enzyme of purine metabolism that is expressed at very high levels in the murine placenta where it accounts for over 95% of the ADA present at the fetal gestation site. We have recently shown that ADA-deficient fetuses, which also lack ADA in their adjoining placentas, die during late fetal development in association with profound purine metabolic disturbances and hepatocellular impairment. We have now investigated the potential importance of placental ADA by genetically restoring the enzyme to placentas of ADA-deficient fetuses. This genetic engineering strategy corrected most of the purine metabolic disturbances, prevented serious fetal liver damage, and rescued the fetuses from perinatal lethality. Our findings suggest that placental ADA is important for murine fetal development and illustrate a general strategy for the tissue specific correction of phenotypes associated with null mutations in mice.
Cover Picture: Nanovalves (Adv. Funct. Mater. 5/2007)

Interlocked molecular and supramolecular actuators based on rotaxanes can act as gatekeepers at the entrances to nanopores in silica. Guest dye molecules can then be uploaded and released on demand. These molecular actuators, or nanovalves, reported on p. 685 by Fraser Stoddart, Jeffrey Zink, and co-workers, can be operated by using a wide range of stimuli, and can be regarded as prototypes for highly controllable drug-delivery systems. This article features both molecular and supramolecular chemistry involving: i) stimuli-induced nanoscale movements within mechanically interlocked molecules; ii) the fabrication of mesoporous silica substrates; and iii) the integration of the mechanically interlocked molecular/supramolecular actuators to act as gatekeepers at the entrances to the silica nanopores into which guest dye molecules can be uploaded and released on demand from the mesoporous silica substrates. The supramolecular actuators are based on two [2]pseudorotaxanes—that is, 1:1 complexes that can be dissociated by external inputs, such as acid/base cycles, electrons, and light. The molecular actuators are based on bistable [2]rotaxanes and can be operated mechanically by using either redox chemistry or electrochemistry. After these pseudorotaxanes and bistable rotaxanes have been attached covalently to the orifices of the silica nanopores, stimuli-controlled mechanical movements within these mechanically interlocked molecules can be harnessed to close and open the nanopores. Therefore, these mechanically interlocked molecules have been employed as nanovalves for controlled sequestering and release of guest dye molecules into and out of the mesoporous silica substrates. These actuators can be regarded as the prototypes of highly controllable drug-delivery systems.
Black holes, antivirulence genes, and gene inactivation in the evolution of bacterial pathogens

The evolution of bacterial pathogens from nonpathogenic ancestors is marked principally by the acquisition of virulence gene clusters on plasmids and pathogenicity islands via horizontal gene transfer. The flip side of this evolutionary force is the equally important adaptation of the newly minted pathogen to its new host niche. Pathoadaptive mutations take the form of modification of gene expression such that the pathogen is better fit to survive within the new niche. This mini-review describes the concept of pathoadaptation by loss of gene function. In this process, genes that are no longer compatible with the novel lifestyle of the pathogen are selectively inactivated either by point mutation, insertion, or deletion. These genes are called ‘antivirulence genes’. Selective pressure sometimes leads to the deletion of large regions of the genome that contain antivirulence genes generating ‘black holes’ in the pathogen genome. Inactivation of antivirulence genes leads to a pathogen that is highly adapted to its host niche. Identification of antivirulence genes for a particular pathogen can lead to a better understanding of how it became a pathogen and the types of genetic traits that need to be silenced in order for the pathogen to colonize its new host niche successfully.
Single-molecule transistors: Electron transfer in the solid state

Abstract Single-molecule transistors (SMTs) incorporating individual small molecules are unique tools for examining the fundamental physics and chemistry of electronic transport in molecular systems at the single nanometer scale. We describe the fabrication and characterization of such devices, and the synthesis and surface attachment chemistry of novel transition metal complexes that have been incorporated into such SMTs. We present gate-modulated inelastic electron tunneling vibrational spectroscopy of single molecules, strong Kondo physics (TK ∼ 75 K) as evidence of excellent molecule/electrode electronic coupling, and a demonstration that covalent attachment chemistry can produce SMTs that survive repeated thermal cycling to room temperature. We conclude with a look ahead at the prospects for these nanoscale systems.
The construction of transitional immediate dentures

Abstract A simple technique for making transitional immediate dentures has been described. This technique is convenient for both the patient and dentist.
Effects of the TWis mutation on notochord formation and mesodermal patterning.

Abstract The mouse T (Brachyury) gene is required for early mesodermal patterning. Mice homozygous for mutations in T die at mid-gestation and display defects in mesodermal tissues such as the notochord, the allantois and the somitic mesoderm. To examine the role of T in pattering of somitic and posterior mesoderm along the anterior-posterior axis, we have examined the expression of a panel of molecular markers normally localized to the sub-set of cell types affected in TWis mutant mice. Through the use of whole-mount antibody double labelling techniques, we have analysed the spatial relationships of distinct mesodermal populations relative to cells expressing the T protein. We have also examined the consequences of the TWis mutation on mesodermal populations recognised by these markers. We demonstrate that TWis homozygous mutants retain the ability to form notochordal precursor cells, as identified both by the T antibody and the expression of sonic hedgehog/vertebrate homolog of hedgehog 1 ( Shh vhh-1 ) and goosecoid, however, these cells fail to proliferate or differentiate. These early notochordal defects appear to result in aberrant somitic differentiation as revealed by the distribution of mox-1 protein and twist RNA expression. Moreover, twist expression in paraxial mesoderm appears to be dependent on normal T activity, while Shh vhh-1 , goosecoid, mox-1 and cdx-4 are not T dependent. We propose that T is required for the maintenance of notochordal tissue and subsequent signals required for somite differentiation.
The Effect of a Full Bladder on Labor

The effect of a full bladder containing 300 ml or more of urine was studied during normal established labor in 20 patients and 10 controls. Uterine activity was measured in Montevideo units, and the progress of labor was assessed by partogram before and after catheterization. Although uterine activity increased after catheterization, there was no significant change in the slope of the partogram. It is concluded that a full bladder does not affect the course of normal established labor.
Landing Rate Measurements to Detect Fibrinogen Adsorption to Non-fouling Surfaces

Rapid advances in non-fouling surface technology have pushed the performance of novel coatings toward the detection limit of established protein density quantification techniques. Hence, there is an urgent need for more sensitive detection strategies. Previously we demonstrated that landing rate measurements of microtubules can reveal kinesin surface coverages between 0.1 and 10 μm−2. In this report, we quantify the binding kinetics of highly fluorescent markers to surface-adhered proteins and demonstrate the of protein surface densities in the range of 0.1–1000 μm−2. We utilize this technique to measure kinesin densities on casein-coated glass surfaces and fibrinogen densities on non-fouling polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA) surfaces. The use of nanospheres (i) potentially permits the detection of a variety of adsorbed proteins, (ii) facilitates the determination of the landing rate due to their uniformity, and (iii) extends the dynamic range of the method due to their small size.
Lateral line units in the amphibian brain could integrate wave curvatures

Aquatic predators like Xenopus laevis exploit mechano-sensory lateral lines to localise prey on the water surface by its wave emissions. In terms of distance, hypothetically, the source of a concentric wave could be centrally represented based on wave curvatures: for Xenopus, we present a first sample of 98 extracellularly recorded brainstem and midbrain responses to waves with curvatures ranging from 22.2-11.1 m(-1). At the frog, concurrently, wave amplitudes and their spectral composition were kept stable. Notably, 61% of 98 units displayed curvature-dependent spike rates, suggesting that wave curvatures could support an extraction of source distances in the amphibian brain.
The New Managerialism and the Policy Influence of Consultants in Government: An Historical–Institutionalist Analysis of Britain, Canada and France

Following the rise of the New Public Management (NPM) in the 1980s, policymakers increasingly mobilized management consultants from the private sector in the course of reforming their bureaucracies. To describe this situation some coined the term “consultocracy,” assuming that the emergence of the NPM created a growing demand for business management expertise in government circles that allowed consultants to penetrate the state and become powerful policy actors. Rather than taking these matters as given, I ask how has it been possible for consultants to become (or not) influential players in the process of administrative reform. It is argued that Britain, and to a lesser extent Canada, have been more likely than France to give rise to a “consultocracy” when implementing NPM reforms in the 1980s because in these two countries, management consultancy emerged earlier and is more strongly developed than in France because of its historical link with accountancy. Whereas French consultants only began to enter public administration in the 1980s, British and Canadian consultants have been involved in the last 30 years in the construction of the state's management capacities. Through their participation in these institution-building processes, they established networks of expertise with the state and acquired the experience of work in government. Over the years, this created opportunities for consultants to make their voices heard in the inner circles of decision-making and made possible the exercise of influence that they are now said to have on policy.
Bifurcations of forced oscillators with fuzzy uncertainties by the generalized cell mapping method

Abstract In this paper, bifurcations in dynamical systems with fuzzy uncertainties are studied by means of the fuzzy generalized cell mapping (FGCM) method. A bifurcation parameter is modeled as a fuzzy set with a triangular membership function. We first study a boundary crisis resulting from a collision of a fuzzy chaotic attractor with a fuzzy saddle on the basin boundary. The fuzzy chaotic attractor together with its basin of attraction is eradicated as the fuzzy control parameter reaches a critical point. We also show that a saddle-node bifurcation is caused by the collision of a fuzzy period-one attractor with a fuzzy saddle on the basin boundary. The fuzzy attractor together with its basin of attraction suddenly disappears as the fuzzy parameter passes through a critical value.
A Proof-Carrying File System

We present the design and implementation of PCFS, a file system that adapts proof-carrying authorization to provide direct, rigorous, and efficient enforcement of dynamic access policies. The keystones of PCFS are a new authorization logic BL that supports policies whose consequences may change with both time and system state, and a rigorous enforcement mechanism that combines proof verification with conditional capabilities. We prove that our enforcement using capabilities is correct, and evaluate our design through performance measurements and a case study.
A Methodology for the Location of Facility Ingress/Egress Points

This article presents an integrated methodology for the inclusion of a facility′s interactions with the outside environment, and the impact of those interactions on the location of entrances and exits within the facility. For example, the outside interactions generated by shipping and receiving activities will significantly influence the location of facility ingress/egress points. The “practical layout planning” (PLP) methodology integrates both layout construction and improvement techniques. The principal idea in this methodology is that departments within a facility be “condensed” into a number of “points”. In the layout construction phase, the relative location of these points is determined using multifacility location theory, where the facility′s interactions with the outside environment are represented by “contact points” and the departments in the layout are analogous to the new facilities to be located. Once these relative departmental positions are obtained, the “points” are then adjusted for area...
Low Mole Ratio UF and UMF Resins Entailing Uron-Type Methylene-Ether Groups and their Low Formaldehyde Emission Potentials

The previous study on low mole ratio urea-formaldehyde (UF) and urea-melamine–formaldehyde (UMF) resins synthesized in the typical way as particleboard binders was repeated with the inclusion of a strong acidic reaction step at a mole ratio of 2.7 in the beginning of the resin synthesis procedure. The resulting UF and UMF resins showed longer storage- and pot-lives, longer gel times, and the particleboards gave higher internal bond and lower water-soak absorption values. However, the free formaldehyde contents of boards were increased with UF resins and decreased with UMF resins, indicating that the uron-type methylene-ether groups formed from the strong acidic step resulted in enhancement of the bonding, but they give off some extra formaldehyde, which is captured more effectively in UMF resins because of the higher reaction capacity of melamine. The extra acidic reaction step could be useful in UMF resin syntheses. The generation of extra formaldehyde by uron-type methylene-ether bonds is documented.