cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial mechanisms of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence of prostate cancer survivors.

Purpose: We examined underlying psychosocial processes of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) of prostate cancer survivors.Design: Secondary analysis of data collected from a clini...
At-issueness in direct quotation: the case of Mayan quotatives

In addition to lexical verbs of saying, many languages have more grammaticized means for reporting the speech of others. This paper presents the first detailed formal account of one such device: quotative morphemes in Mayan languages, with a focus on Yucatec Maya ki(j) . When mentioned in previous literature, quotatives have either been regarded as a special kind of verb of saying or reportative evidential. I argue that quotatives have important differences (and some similarities) with both verbs of saying and reportatives. To capture these properties, I propose a ‘scoreboard’ account where quotative ki(j) signals that the co-occurring quotative material demonstrates a move in an in-narrative scoreboard.
Monitoring Hydroxycinnamic Acid Decarboxylation by Lactic Acid Bacteria Using High-Throughput UV-Vis Spectroscopy

Hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) decarboxylation by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) results in the production of 4-vinylplenols with great impact on the sensorial characteristics of foods. The determination of LAB decarboxylating capabilities is key for optimal strain selection for food production. The activity of LAB strains from the Ohio State University-Parker Endowed Chair (OSU-PECh) collection potentially capable of synthesizing phenolic acid decarboxylase was evaluated after incubation with HCAs for 36 h at 32 °C. A high-throughput method for monitoring HCAs decarboxylation was developed based on hypsochromic shifts at pH 1.0. Out of 22 strains evaluated, only Enterococcus mundtii, Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus were capable of decarboxylating all p-coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acids. Other strains only decarboxylated p-coumaric and caffeic acid (6), only p-coumaric acid (2) or only caffeic acid (1), while 10 strains did not decarboxylate any HCA. p-Coumaric acid had the highest conversion efficiency, followed by caffeic acid and lastly ferulic acid. Results were confirmed by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analyses, showing the conversion of HCAs into their 4-vinylphenol derivatives. This work can help improve the sensory characteristics of HCA-rich foods where fermentation with LAB was used during processing.
Focusing on the penultimate step: increasing early lung transplant discussion in cystic fibrosis clinic to prepare patients for referral.

Lung transplant is a potential life-lengthening option for individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) and advanced lung disease. However, referral for transplant evaluation is not made for the majority of patients with CF with low lung function who die each year.1 Recently published consensus guidelines from the CF Foundation identify early transplant discussion as a critical approach to optimise access to this treatment option.2 This quality improvement (QI) intervention sought to improve education of patients with CF regarding transplant by increasing the frequency of outpatient CF clinic visits in which transplant is discussed with patients with low lung function. The setting for the QI initiative was the paediatric CF Centre at Massachusetts General Hospital. Strategies included: (1) Assembly of a multidisciplinary QI team including nursing, social work, CF providers and a transplant physician, (2) Analysis of the baseline frequency of transplant discussion between CF providers and patients with low lung function (eg, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) ≤50%-predicted), (3) Process mapping steps to lung transplant discussion during clinic visits, (4) Survey of CF providers (n=3) to identify specific barriers to discussion in patients with low lung function, (5) Survey of patients with CF (n=6) regarding optimal timing for initial discussion, (6) Brainstorming of potential interventions using a priority pay-off matrix, (7) Creation of a web-based intervention and patient education material, and (8) Postintervention data collection and analysis using standard statistics and QI methodology. The project was undertaken as a QI initiative and was not formally supervised by the institutional review board of Mass General Brigham per their policies. Patients were involved in project design through individual interview and survey which guided the intervention. Baseline data revealed 17 patients with CF with an FEV …
Virus and Bacteria Inactivation Using Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes

The control of infectious diseases is a critical challenge in developing and developed nations alike. Humans can be exposed to pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria through numerou...
Flexible Music Teaching and Risk

Literature is needed to address lifeworlds of music teachers outside the scope of K-12 public school settings. This article presents narrative inquiry investigating the experiences of a teaching ar...
Fast and slow progressors of infarct growth in basilar artery occlusion strokes.

Background Heterogeneity in the infarct growth rate among anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes has triage and treatment implications. Such data are lacking for basilar artery occlusion (BAO) strokes. We aim to describe the variability in brainstem infarct volume at presentation and compute the distribution of the infarct growth rate (IGR) and rate of loss of neurons during BAO strokes. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive patients with BAO stroke with pretreatment MRI was performed. Ischemic core volume was manually calculated (product of slice thickness and sum of area of region of interests) for the brainstem lesion. The distribution of various brainstem infarct volume groups was analyzed and the IGR (including rate of loss of neurons) was computed. Results Fifty-nine patients were included. Mean age was 64±13 and 34% were men. Mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 20±11 and time to MRI was 9±5 hours. Mean brainstem ischemic core volume was 4.5±4.6 mL. According to predefined thresholds, 13% and 6% of patients with BAO stroke in the 0–6 hour time window were fast (5–10 mL) and ultra-fast progressors (>10 mL), respectively, and 14% of patients in the 6–24 hour time window were slow progressors ( 2.12 million. Conclusion Approximately 14% of BAO strokes are slow progressors and 19% are fast/ultra-fast progressors, with the rate of loss of neurons ranging from 2.1 million/min. Large heterogeneity exists in brainstem infarct volume at presentation and IGR among patients with BAO stroke.
Postnatal outcomes and risk factor analysis for patients with prenatally diagnosed oropharyngeal masses.

Abstract Objectives To describe our experience treating prenatally diagnosed oropharyngeal masses in a novel, multidisciplinary collaboration. To identifying outcomes and risk factors associated with adverse postnatal outcomes. Methods This is a sixty-two patient case series at an academic referral center. Patients with prenatally diagnosed oropharyngeal masses were identified through a programmatic database and confirmed in the electronic health record. Results Sixty-two patient with prenatally diagnosed oropharyngeal mass were identified, with prenatal imaging at our institution confirming this diagnosis in fifty-seven patients, short term outcomes analysis conducted on forty-four patients, and long-term outcomes analysis conducted on seventeen patients. The most common pathology was lymphatic malformations (n = 27, 47.4%), followed by teratomas (n = 22, 38.6%). The median mass volume from all available patient imaging (n = 57) was 60.54 cm3 (range 1.73–742.5 cm3). Thirteen pregnancies were interrupted, six infants expired, and thirteen cases had an unknown fetal outcome. Confirmed mortality was 6/57 patients with imaging-confirmed oropharyngeal masses (10.5%). Fourteen (56%) of the surviving patients (n = 25) were delivered by Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) procedure and the median NICU stay was thirty-six days (range: 3–215 days). There was no association between airway compression/deviation/displacement, stomach size, polyhydramnios, or mass size and mortality. Seventeen patients had more than one year of follow-up (mean 5.3 ± 2.4 years). These seventeen patients underwent general anesthesia a total of ninety-two times (mean 5.4 ± 4.3) and had a total of twenty-three mass-related surgeries. The great majority of patients required an artificial airway at birth, feeding support, and speech/swallow therapy. Conclusions Oropharyngeal mass involvement of key anatomic structures—the neck, upper thorax, orbit, and ear, has a greater association with mortality than mass size. Regardless of the size and involved structures, oropharyngeal masses are associated with a high burden of intensive medical care and surgical care beginning at or before birth.
Capacitance computations in a multilayered dielectric medium using closed-form spatial Green's functions

An efficient method for computing the 2D and 3D capacitance matrix of multiconductor interconnects in a multilayered dielectric medium is presented. The method is applicable to conductors of arbitrary polygonal shape embedded in a multilayered dielectric medium with possible ground planes on the top or bottom of the dielectric layers. The computation time required to evaluate the space-domain Green's function for the multilayered medium, which involves an infinite summation, has been greatly reduced by obtaining a closed-form, using a finite number of images in the spectral domain. The corresponding space-domain Green's functions are then obtained using the proper closed-form integrations. The elements of the moment matrix are computed using the closed-form formulation, avoiding any numerical integration. The proposed method shows good agreement when compared with other published results. >
Reconfigurable Modular Fault-Tolerant Converter Topology for Switched Reluctance Motors

Switched reluctance motors can be driven in a conventional or a modular way. In the conventional driving method, a number of stator coils are connected together and driven from one converter module. In the modular driving method, each stator coil is driven from one separate converter module. The conventional driving method provides better drive performance (i.e. efficiency, torque ripple, power density) but narrower speed range at rated torque and less fault tolerance-capability. The modular driving method provides wider speed range at rated torque and much better fault tolerance capability. Therefore, in low speed healthy operation, the conventional driving method is preferable while for high speed and faulty condition, the modular driving method should be used. In this paper, a converter topology that can be reconfigured to operate in conventional and modular driving ways is proposed and analysed. Using the proposed converter, the benefits of the conventional and the modular driving methods can be obtained by proper configuration of the converter. Also, a fault-tolerance strategy that results in symmetrical and high performance operation of the drive is proposed. The performance of the converter is assessed by simulations and experimental measurements.
Energy Poverty and the Environment

Nearly three billion people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America (the Energy Poor) face daily hardships due to lack of modern energy for cooking, heating, sanitation, lighting, transportation, and basic mechanical power. Despite their minimal greenhouse gas emissions, the Energy Poor will be disproportionately burdened by the floods, droughts, rising sea levels, and other disturbances caused by climate change. Although climate change has been framed as an issue of climate debt and climate justice, the plight of the Energy Poor has received short shrift in the climate change negotiations. Will efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions consign the Energy Poor to perpetual deprivation? This chapter argues that the climate change negotiations represent a unique opportunity for affluent countries to mitigate climate change, repay the climate debt, and foster climate justice and energy justice by financing the provision of clean renewable energy to the Energy Poor. The black carbon emitted in the burning of biomass by the Energy Poor results in millions of deaths per year due to indoor air pollution (primarily among women and children), and constitutes the second most significant contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide. Dependence on biomass for energy also ravages local ecosystems and accelerates deforestation. The cost of reducing black carbon emissions is minimal relative to other greenhouse gases, and the benefits are enormous because black carbon is a highly potent greenhouse gas that dissipates in as little as one week if emissions cease. Financing the provision of clean, renewable energy to the world’s Energy Poor will enhance their well-being, fulfill their human rights, produce an immediate decline in black carbon, and promote low-emission alternatives to the dominant fossil-fuel based development paradigm. A justice-centered approach to climate change and energy poverty should recognize the right to energy as an emerging human right and prioritize the provision of appropriate sustainable energy technologies (ASETs) to the Energy Poor, including decentralized electricity generating systems based on solar, wind, and local biodiesel; efficient cookstoves; and solar thermal heating. Decentralized renewable energy will enable the Energy Poor to bypass existing fossil fuel-based energy systems that are cumbersome, expensive, polluting, and vulnerable to capture by national elites. Financing the provision of ASETs to the Energy Poor can therefore foster democratic local control of energy production in addition to mitigating climate change, protecting local ecosystems, fulfilling human rights, and hastening the transition to sustainable energy.
Impact of Collaborative Ties on Open Source Software Development

Within the past few years, the open source software development (OSSD) has gained tremendous popularity as an alternative and promising approach to software production. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of collaborative relations on the behavior of the OSSD team. In this proposal we develop a theoretical framework and research hypotheses. We then outline the research methodology of empirically testing the hypotheses on a large-scale data set. The research will be conducted in two stages. In the first stage, we will examine the impact of collaborative ties on developer joining behavior and team formation process. In the second stage, we will investigate the relationship between the resultant structural properties of the team and project performance.
Aerodynamic Stability of H Sections

A theory is developed for an H section under lateral wind loading to explain the dynamic stability of girder-stiffened suspension bridges. The mathematical model presupposes, as the most significant force, the aerodynamic loading on the windward girder and because the shear-center for an arbitrary section and the center-of-gravity are not colinear, a lateral force gives rise to vertical and angular displacements as well as a horizontal displacement. Based on the loading assumption a quasistatic approach to the time-dependent cavity flow problem is developed which yields a formula for moments and thrusts, with wind velocity as a parameter. Stability of the system is then investigated using the Routh-Hurwitz theorems and is found to be dependent on the structural properties, geometry, and free-stream wind speed. As a function of the latter, the model predicts regions of stability imbedded in an otherwise generally unstable situation. Observations of the behavior of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge appear to confirm, qualitatively at least, the validity of the model. Other comparisons of model behavior and observation are similarly compared, and the significant parameters contributing to instability are identified.
Can We Trust the Computational Analysis of Engineering Problems

Computational science in general and computational mechanics in particular addresses physical and engineering reality with respect to some particular goals. These goals must be clearly specified. They are usually to get good qualitative or quantitative information about reality. The admissible quality of required information should be characterized.
Helmholtz, Hermann von

Hermann von Helmholtz (1821–1894) was one of the most productive and versatile scientists of the nineteenth century. His experimental, theoretical, and technical accomplishments advanced the fields of optics, physiology of hearing and vision, epistemology, electrodynamics, hydrodynamics, meteorology, mathematics, music, and the emerging science of experimental psychology. Keywords: perception; sensation; vision; hearing; epistemology
Cyclic AMP- and phorbol ester-induced transcriptional activation are mediated by the same enhancer element in the human vasoactive intestinal peptide gene.

Transcription of the human vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene is regulated by both cyclic AMP and phorbol esters. A 17-nucleotide enhancer element within the human VIP gene mediates transcriptional activation by both phorbol esters and forskolin. Mutations of this element decrease responses to both agents, suggesting that the trans-acting proteins that mediate both modes of transcriptional regulation have similar DNA-binding characteristics. The response of the VIP enhancer element to forskolin, but not to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, was attenuated by treatment with a recombinant inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, suggesting that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C second messenger pathways that converge on this single enhancer element are distinct. The transcriptional activator cAMP-responsive element-binding (CREB) proteins and the c-fos.c-Jun complex interact with the VIP enhancer. The dual second messenger responses of the VIP gene may result from the interaction of this second messenger enhancer with different transcriptional activator proteins.
Systems Design Issues in Planning and Implementation

Telecommunications Company (TC) [company identity is concealed] produced a sales management application through internal and contract resources. This application, Schedule Graph (SG) System, was designed to automate the sales schedule process that had previously been a paper and pencil process. The system was designed and implemented in a matter of months to reduce cost and deliver an application that was long overdue. The project had been proposed for years, but funding issues had routinely delayed initiation. The sales development organization worked on the design and development for this application for approximately six months. The application was released with numerous software, hardware and network problems. The effects on the customer community, the information systems department and other stakeholders were sharp and far reaching. This case study investigates the lessons learned with this application and the implications for theory and practice. It can be instrumental to information systems managers, academicians and students to learn from the success and pitfalls of other organizations related to information systems development and management.
Condensation of the forespore nucleoid early in sporulation of Bacillus species.

Fluorescence microscopic examination coupled with digital videoimage analysis of 49,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained sporulating cells of Bacillus megaterium or Bacillus subtilis revealed a striking condensation of the forespore nucleoid. While both mother cell and forespore compartments had equal amounts of DNA, the forespore nucleoid became greater than 2-fold more condensed than the mother cell nucleoid. The condensation of the forespore nucleoid began after only the first hour of sporulation, 2 to 3 h before expression of most forespore-specific genes including those for small, acid-soluble spore proteins, and was abolished in spo0 mutants but not in spoII or spoIII mutants. It is possible that this striking condensation of forespore DNA plays some role in modulating gene expression during sporulation. Images
Integrins, Rafts, Rac, and Rho

It is known that processes such as cell migration involve adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix via integrins. However, the integrin-mediated signaling events that help to regulate various cellular functions are still being elucidated. In his Perspective, Guan discusses new work ( del Pozo et al .; Palazzo et al .) demonstrating that integrins use plasma membrane lipid rafts to regulate the targeting of Rac and Rho GTPases to the plasma membrane and their coupling to downstream effector molecules.
Beyond Upgrading: Gendered Labor and the Restructuring of Firms in the Dominican Republic

In the literature on global commodity chains, industrial upgrading describes the process whereby firms shift to more secure or more profitable niches within or between industries through organizati...
An Early Warning System for Overcrowding in the Emergency Department

Overcrowding of emergency departments impedes health care access and quality nationwide. A real-time early warning system for overcrowding may allow administrators to alleviate the problem before reaching a crisis state. Two original probabilistic models - a logistic regression and a recurrent neural network - were created to predict overcrowding crises one hour in the future. The two original and two pre-existing models were validated at 8,496 observation points from January 1, 2006 to February 28, 2006. All models showed high discriminatory ability in terms of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (logistic regression = .954; recurrent neural network = .957; EDWIN = .879; NEDOCS = .924). At comparable rates of false alarms, the logistic regression gave more advance notice of crises than other models (logistic regression = 62 min; recurrent neural network = 13 min; EDWIN = 0 min; NEDOCS = 0 min). These results demonstrate the feasibility of using models based on key operational variables to anticipate overcrowding crises in real time.
Content-based image retrieval for pulmonary computed tomography nodule images

Research studies have shown that advances in computed tomography (CT) technology allow better detection of pulmonary nodules by generating higher-resolution images. However, the new technology also generates many more individual transversal reconstructions, which as a result may affect the efficiency and accuracy of the radiologists interpreting these images. The goal of our research study is to build a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system for pulmonary CT nodules. Currently, texture is used to quantify the image content, but any other image feature could be incorporated into the proposed system. Unfortunately, there is no texture model or similarity measure known to work best for encoding nodule texture properties or retrieving most similar nodules. Therefore, we investigated and evaluated several texture models and similarity measures with respect to nodule size, number of retrieved nodules, and radiologist agreement on the nodules' texture characteristic. The results were generated on 90 thoracic CT scans collected by the Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC). Every case was annotated by up to four radiologists marking the contour of nodules and assigning nine characteristics (including texture) to each identified nodule. We found that Gabor texture descriptors produce the best retrieval results regardless of the nodule size, number of retrieved items or similarity metric. Furthermore, when analyzing the radiologists' agreement on the texture characteristic, we found that when just two radiologists agreed, the average precision increased from 88% to 96% for both Gabor and Markov texture features. Moreover, once three or four radiologists agreed the precision increased to nearly 100%.
THYROID RESPONSE TO PARTURITION: RELATIONSHIP TO GESTATIONAL AGE (GA) AND THE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS)

Thyroxine (T4, μg/dl), triiodothyronine (T3, ng/dl), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3, ng/dl) and TSH (μU/ml) were measured in cord blood and at 2, 12, 24 and 72 hrs of age in 18 well infants (GA 32 to 41 wks) and in 5 infants with RDS (GA 31-33 wks). Both T4 and T3 increased after birth. rT3 decreased transiently at 2 hrs and then increased. The increase in T3/rT3 and decrease in T4/T3 ratios at 2 hrs suggests that the initial T3 surge is due, in part, to an increase in peripheral conversion of T4 to T3. In RDS infants TSH was low at 2 hrs and the T4 increase was minimal T3 and T3/rT3 increased while T4/T3 decreased at 2 hrs: at 12 hrs T4/T3 increased and T3/rT3 decreased, suggesting that T4 to T3 conversion occurs at birth but is subsequently inhibited. Conclusions: a) newborn thyroid adaptation matures with increasing GA; b) the initial TSH and T4 surges are reduced in the RDS infant; and c) the RDS infant manifests decreased T4 to T3 conversion after 2 hrs.
Population pharmacokinetics of darbepoetin alfa in healthy subjects

Aim To develop and evaluate a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model of the long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating protein, darbepoetin alfa in healthy subjects. Methods PK profiles were obtained from 140 healthy subjects receiving single intravenous and/or single or multiple subcutaneous doses of darbepoetin alfa (0.75–8.0 µg kg−1, or either 80 or 500 µg). Data were analysed by a nonlinear mixed-effects modelling approach using NONMEM software. Influential covariates were identified by covariate analysis emphasizing parameter estimates and their confidence intervals, rather than stepwise hypothesis testing. The model was evaluated by comparing simulated profiles (obtained using the covariate model) to the observed profiles in a test dataset. Results The population PK model, including first-order absorption, two-compartment disposition and first-order elimination, provided a good description of data. Modelling indicated that for a 70-kg human, the observed nearly twofold disproportionate dose–exposure relationship at the 8.0 µg kg−1-dose relative to the 0.75 µg kg−1-dose may reflect changing relative bioavailability, which increased from ∼ 48% at 0.75 µg kg−1 to 78% at 8.0 µg kg−1. The covariate analysis showed that increasing body weight may be related to increasing clearance and central compartment volume, and that the absorption rate constant decreased with increasing age. The full covariate model performed adequately in a fixed-effects prediction test against an external dataset. Conclusion The developed population PK model describes the inter- and intraindividual variability in darbepoetin alfa PK. The model is a suitable tool for predicting the PK response of darbepoetin alfa using clinically untested dosing regimens.
Forming post-strata via Bayesian treed capture-recapture models

SUMMARY For the problem of dual system estimation, we propose a Bayesian treed capture recapture model to account for heterogeneity of capture probabilities where individual auxiliary information is available. The model uses a binary tree to partition the covariate space into 'homogeneous' regions, within each of which the capture response can be described adequately by a simple model that assumes equal catchability. The attractive features of the proposed model include reduction of correlation bias, robustness and practical flexibility as well as simplicity and interpretability. In addition, it provides a systematic and effective way of forming post-strata for the Sekar-Deming estimator of population size. We compare the performance of estimators based on this model to those of alternative estimators in three scenarios.
Regulation of β-amyloid precursor protein and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor gene expression during differentiation of a human neuronal cell line

Abstract Retinoic acid-induced differentiation of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells results in the development of extensive neurite processes as well as changes in cell body morphology toward a neuronal phenotype. The authors have examined concurrent regulation of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (insP 3 R) gene expression in SY5Y cells during neuronal differentiation. Of the multiple APP mRNA transcripts expressed in this cell line, retinoic acid treatment significantly increased the expression of APP 695 transcript while the level of total APP remained unchanged. In the same time course, neuronal differentiation decreased the expression of insP 3 R at both the mRNA and protein levels. These findings demonstrate an inverse relationship between APP and insP 3 R gene expression during neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells and suggest a possible change in intracellular calcium homeostasis.
Classical and quantal Liouville field theory

The canonical structure of the Liouville theory is investigated. We present two canonical transformations which map the theory onto a free field theory. The first makes use of conformal invariance and relies on a Yang-Feldman solution to the field equation. The second employs the inverse scattering method, which is uncommonly intricate, owing to the conformal invariance. We also analyze the quantized theory. Semiclassical arguments, supplemented by a study of the exact effective potential, suggest that the theory has a conformally invariant, continuous energy spectrum, bounded from below, but no translationally invariant ground state.
Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to live recombinant BCG–HIV vaccines

Several viral and bacterial live recombinant vaccine vehicles are being developed to produce a new generation of vaccines against a broad spectrum of infectious diseases. The human tuberculosis vaccine Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has features that make it a particularly attractive live recombinant vaccine vehicle. BCG and other mycobacteria are highly effective adjuvants, and the immune response to mycobacteria has been studied extensively. With nearly two billion immunizations, BCG has a long record of safe use in man. It is one of the few vaccines that can be given at birth, it engenders long-lived immune responses with only a single dose, and there is a worldwide distribution network with experience in BCG vaccination. Recently developed molecular genetic tools and methods for mycobacteria have provided the means to introduce foreign genes into BCG. Here we report that a variety of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 polypeptides can be expressed in BCG recombinants under the control of the mycobacterial hsp70 promoter and that the foreign polypeptides produced in BCG can induce antibody and T-cell responses. These results demonstrate that BCG can be used as a live recombinant vaccine vehicle to induce immune responses to pathogen proteins produced by the bacillus.
Postoperative Intraperitoneal 5-Fluoro-2′-Deoxyuridine Added to Chemoradiation in Patients Curatively Resected (R0) for Locally Advanced Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

Purpose Chemoradiation after surgery for locally advanced gastric cancer improves overall and relapse-free survival compared with observation. However, locoregional recurrences remain high. Accordingly, we instituted this pilot/feasibility study, including intraperitoneal 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (IP FUDR) as part of the treatment.
Postmortem genotyping in sudden cardiac death: Closing the diagnostic gap

describe amethod of obtaining DNA for channelopathy genotypingfrom neonatal Guthrie screening cards. The effort was spe-ciﬁcally aimed at assisting in the postmortem diagnosis oflong-QT syndrome (LQTS) when tissue samples were notavailable. The authors investigated 21 cases from New Zea-land, with 19 of the individuals of pediatric age (18years). The Guthrie cards for these cases ranged from 3 to39 years old. In this study, LQTS screening was accom-plished in 19 of the 21, with 6 of 19 (32%) showing LQTSgene variants. In an additional 2 cases, results of cascadescreening from tissue DNA analysis in a living relative backto the Guthrie card of the deceased allowed a focusedinvestigation and identiﬁcation of the cause of death in thatindividual.Gladding et al
Firm and management characteristics as discriminators of export marketing activity

Abstract Exporting continues to be the major type of foreign involvement for many American companies. This paper reports on an empirical study designed to relate a comprehensive set of firm and management characteristics to such activity. Potential correlates of export marketing activity are identified through a literature search and are then used to discriminate between exporting and nonexporting firms. The findings indicate that profiles can be developed for exporting and nonexporting firms. Organizational and management characteristics can provide meaningful profiles which are capable of distinguishing between exporting and nonexporting firms. The implications of these finding for management, public policy, and future research are discussed.
Emotional distress among HIV-positive individuals: the roles of acute negative life events and psychological diatheses

The present study investigated the impact of negative life events and psychological diatheses (neuroticism, low self-esteem, and dysfunctional attitudes) on emotional distress among HIV-positive patients. Fifty-two participants completed questionnaires assessing acute stressful life events, psychological diatheses, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. The following hypotheses were tested: (a) negative life events would predict depressive symptoms and perceived stress; (b) HIV-specific life events would be more strongly associated with depressive symptoms and perceived stress than general life events; and (c) psychological diatheses would moderate the relationship between acute life events and depressive symptoms, as well as the relationship between life events and perceived stress. Results indicated that both general and HIV-specific life events predicted depressive symptoms and perceived stress. However, no support was found for the hypothesis that HIV-related life events would be more potent. Psychological diatheses moderated the impact of life events on perceived stress, such that life events had a greater impact on those with lower levels of vulnerability. These results remained significant after controlling for biological markers of disease progression.
Carbon-sulfur bond formation via alkene addition to an oxidized ruthenium-thiolate.

Bulk oxidation of [Ru(DPPBT)3], 1b, (DPPBT = 2-diphenylphosphinobenzenethiolate) in the presence of ethylene yields [(ethane-1,2-diylbis(thio-2,1-phenylene)diphenylphosphine) ruthenium(II)] hexafluorophosphate, [2a]PF6, from the addition of the alkene across cis sulfur sites. During oxidation, the absorption bands of 1b at 540, 797, and 1041 nm decrease in intensity. The resulting complex [2a]+ displays a single redox couple at +804 mV. The +ESI-MS of [2a]+ shows a parent ion peak at m/z = 1009.1013, and the 31P NMR spectrum displays chemical shift values of δ1 = 61.0, δ2 = 40.3, and δ3 = 37.5 with coupling constants of J12 ≈ J13 ≈ 30 Hz and J23 = 304 Hz. Oxidation of [2a]+ by one electron at a holding potential of +1000 mV yields [(ethane-1,2-diylbis(thio-2,1-phenylene)diphenyl phosphine)ruthenium(III)] hexafluorophosphate, [2b][PF6]2. The EPR of [2b][PF6]2 displays a rhombic signal with g1 = 2.09, g2 = 2.04, and g3 = 2.03. Oxidation of 1b in the presence of alkenes including 1-hexene, styrene, cyclohexe...
Electron microscopic characterization of neonatal platelet ultrastructure: effects of sampling techniques.

Abstract Detailed ultrastructure of 720 neonatal platelets was systematically examined in 200–300 ul cord blood samples from four normal term infants. There were no differences in platelet organelles between samples collected into standard sodium citrate anticoagulant and minimally heparinized samples collected into sodium citrate. Samples collected into EDTA showed significant differences from the other two solutions. There were also differences in organelle characteristics within a solution group, as time from sample collection to EM fixation varied. These results verify utilization of small minimally heparinized blood samples for examination of platelet ultrastructure. This system can now be expanded to the premature infant, where small blood sample requirements are essential, and minimally heparinized blood may be more readily available.
A survey of the selenochemistry of major, minor and trace elements

Average data for igneous and/or metaigneous rocks and soils from seven lunar sites are presented. There are compositional similarities between Apollo 11 and Luna 16 eastern maria, Ap 12 and 15 western maria and between Ap 16 and L 20 highlands. Subtle differences do exist between the paired mare sites and the two highland sites and striking differences between the eastern and western maria. Chondritic normalized REE (rare earth element) patterns for igneous rocks and soils from all sites range from 7-350 generally with negative Eu anomalies. Anorthositic gabbroes to anorthosites, presumably highland material, exhibit a positive Eu anomaly. The REE patterns or Sr isotopic ratios suggest two lava flows each for the L 16 and Ap 14 sites, at least four lava flows for the Ap 11 and 12 site and about six for the Ap 15 site. Paucity of lunar andesites suggests rather limited lunar chemical differentiation. Norite-KREEP is a prominent component at Ap 12, 14 and 15, less at Ap 11 and 16 and L 16 and apparently very low at the L 20 highland site. Derivation of lunar soils can be best explained using multi-component mixing systems. Characterization of meteoritic impacting bodies is also observed in addition to a steady state veil of 1.9% carbonaceous Cl like material in soils. Interelement correlations impose constraints on the primitive composition of the Moon and on magmatic processes like selective volatilization.
Tetrahydrobiopterin does not affect end-organ responsiveness to norepinephrine-mediated vasoconstriction in aged skin

We have recently demonstrated that tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) augments reflex vasoconstriction (VC) in aged skin. Although this appears to occur through its role in norepinephrine (NE) biosynthesis, the extent with which vascular mechanisms are affected are unknown. We hypothesized that localized BH(4) supplementation would not affect the VC response to exogenous NE when sympathetic nerves were blocked. Two microdialysis fibers were placed in bretylium tosylate pretreated (presynaptically blocks neurotransmitter release from sympathetic adrenergic nerve terminals; iontophoresis, 200 μA for 20 min) 3-cm(2) forearm skin of 10 young (Y) and 10 older (O) subjects for perfusion of 1) Ringer (control) and 2) 5 mM BH(4). While local skin temperature was clamped at 34°C, six concentrations of NE (10(-12), 10(-10), 10(-8), 10(-6), 10(-4), 10(-2) M) were infused at each drug-treated site. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated (CVC = laser Doppler flux/mean arterial pressure) and normalized to baseline (%ΔCVC(base)). Despite prejunctional adrenergic blockade, NE-mediated VC was blunted in aged skin at each NE dose (10(-12): -12 ± 2 vs. -21 ± 2; 10(-10): -15 ± 2 vs. -27 ± 1; 10(-8): -22 ± 2 vs. -32 ± 2; 10(-6): -27 ± 2 vs. -38 ± 1; 10(-4): -52 ± 3 vs. -66 ± 5; 10(-2): -62 ± 3 vs. -75 ± 4%ΔCVC(base); P 0.05). Localized BH(4) did not affect end-organ responsiveness to exogenous NE, suggesting that the effects of BH(4) on cutaneous VC are primarily isolated to the NE biosynthetic pathway.
Spin Dependence of the Thermal Neutron Cross Section of Ho 165

Transmission experiments have been carried out with polarized, monochromatic neutrons and polarized ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{165}$ nuclei using a single crystal sample of holmium metal. (61.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.8)% of the thermal capture is into $I\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}=3$ states, which establishes the contribution of one or more bound levels to the thermal cross section. Additional measurements on a polycrystalline sample show that the scattering cross section has no appreciable spin dependence.
Digital Games for Young Children Ages Three to Six: From Research to Design

Young children ages 3 to 6 play a wide range of digital games, which are now available on large screens, handheld screens, electronic learning systems, and electronic toys, and their time spent with games is growing. This article examines effects of digital games and how they could be designed to best serve children's needs. A small body of research has found that games—when well designed—can provide rich, fun, interactive experiences that can foster young children's learning, cognitive development, skill building, social interactions, physical activity, and healthy behaviors. Research on games that are not well designed has found that violent content can lead to fear, hostility, desensitization, and aggressive behavior; stereotyped portrayals of characters can lead to stereotyped beliefs about others and oneself; and game playing can consume valuable time that could have been better spent in exploratory play, direct manipulation of objects in the environment, physical activity, and social interaction. Mo...
A Review of the Learning Disability Evaluation Scale (LDES).

Abstract The Learning Disability Evaluation Scale (LDES; McCarney, 1996 ) was developed for educators to identify students with learning disabilities using observations. The purpose of the tool is to provide information contributing to the educational diagnosis of learning disability. The instrument consists of 88 items arranged on seven subscales based on the federal government's definition of Learning Disabilities (U.S. Office of Education, 1968) . “Specific learning disability” ( McCarney, 1996 , p. 9) refers to a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes of understanding or using language manifested in difficult performance in listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, or doing mathematical calculations. The term includes conditions such as perceptual handicaps, brain injury, minimal brain function, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Children who have learning problems as a result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, or environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage are not included. This review is an attempt to describe the strengths and weaknesses of the LDES.
Coordination chemistry of 7,9-disubstituted 6-oxopurine metal compounds. 4. Platinum(II) coordination at N(1). Molecular and crystal structure of [(ethylenediamine)bis(7,9-dimethylhypoxanthine)platinum(II)] hexafluorophosphate ☆

Abstract The preparation and molecular and crystal structure of the complex [(ethylenediamine)bis(7,9,-dimethylhypoxanthine)platinum(II)] hexafluorophosphate, [Pt(C 2 H 8 N 2 )(C 7 H 8 N 4 O) 2 ] (PF 6 ) 2 , are reported. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a = 12.334(2)A, b = 10.256(2)A, c = 22.339(3)A, β = 101.31(1)°, V = 2771.0A 3 , Z = 4, D measd = 2.087(3) g cm −3 , D calc = 2.094 g cm −3 . Intensities for 3992 symmetry-averaged reflections were collected in the θ-2 o scan mode on an automated diffractometer employing graphite-monochromatized MoKα radiation. The structure was solved by standard heavy-atom Patterson and Fourier methods. Full matrix least-squares refinement led to a final R value of 0.051. Both the ethylenediamine chelate and the PF 6 − anion are disordered. The primary coordination sphere about the Pt(II) center is approximately square planar with the bidentate ethylenediamine ligand and the N(1) atoms [Pt(II) − N(1) = 2.020(5)A] of two 7,9-dimethylhypoxanthine bases (related by a crystallographic twofold axis of symmetry) occupying the four coordination sites. The exocyclic O(6) carbonyl oxygen atoms of the two 7,9-dimethylhypoxanthine ligands participate in intracomplex hydrogen bonding with the amino groups of the ethylenediamine chelate [ N (ethylenediamine) ⋯ O(6) = 2.89( )A]. The observed Pt ⋯ O(6) intramolecular distances of 3.074(6)A are similar to those found in other Pt(II) N(1)-bound 6-oxopurine complexes and in several Pt(II) N(3)-bound cytosine systems.
Satellite-view biases in retrieved surface temperatures in mountain areas

Abstract Ground surface temperatures retrieved from satellite data taken in mountain areas may have biases that depend strongly on the satellite viewing angle and the time of clay. Biases occur whenever there is a correlation between the viewing angle and the temperatures of subpixel mountainsides, such as when the satellite's view directly faces the most brightly sunlit slopes. This paper reports simulations of this satellite-view bias effect for mountain terrain in central and southwestern Colorado and the southern Sierra Nevada in California. Surface temperatures for the simulations were computed by using a mesoscale numerical weather prediction model with a parameterization for terrain features that are at a scale finer than. the model grid resolution. The representation of terrain in the simulations was based on elevation. data with high resolution (30 m) from U.S. Geological Survey Digital Elevation. Map data sets. Biases as large as 9 C° were found while assuming a satellite sensor resolution of 14 km. Even larger biases were found with finer sensor resolutions. These biases are substantially larger than those that had previously been found from modeling with terrain data at about 90 m -resolution (3″ latitude/longitude) from the Defense Mapping Agency. The simulations suggest that satellite-view; biases could cause substantial local errors when surface temperature retrievals are used for climate diagnosis, weather analysis, soil moisture estimation, or geologic mapping.
The effects of parathyroid hormone on serum glycoprotein and seromucoid levels and on the kidney of the rat.

AN ELEVATION of seromucoid in rats following the administration of parathyroid extracts has been reported by En gel (1), who postulated that this elevation was due to changes of bone matrix. Shetlar, Howard, and Reifenstein (2) in a preliminary report noted that elevations of seromucoid occurred in rats treated with parathyroid extract inactivated by formaldehyde treatment. This work has been extended to more complete studies of serum glycoprotein and seromucoid levels of rats after treatment with active parathyroid extracts and with extracts inactivated by both pepsin and formaldehyde. EXPERIMENTAL Serum glycoprotein was determined b}r the tryptophan method of Shetlar, Foster, and Everett (3), seromucoid hexose by the tryptophan method after isolation by the method of Winzler and Smyth (4), and serum protein by the biuret reaction.
Transient characteristics of a fuel cell powered UAV propulsion system

In this paper, the transient characteristics of a fuel cell powered UAV propulsion system are investigated through effective time constants and step command responses in the time domain. A fuel cell powered UAV model is obtained by modifying the Aerosonde UAV model with a fuel cell system and an electric motor. The influence of the model parameters on the transient response characteristics of a fuel cell powered UAV propulsion system is studied through parametric studies. In addition, the linearized longitudinal model of a fuel cell powered UAV is compared with that of a conventional gas powered configuration to illustrate the impact of the significant time delay associated with a fuel cell system.