cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polymorphisms within the interleukin-1β gene cluster and preeclampsia☆

Abstract Objective: To identify associations between polymorphisms within the interleukin-1β gene cluster, all of which increase protein expression, and preeclampsia. Methods: We genotyped a Hispanic population (69 women with preeclampsia and 47 controls) for two polymorphisms of the interleukin-1β gene (promoter region and exon 5) and one polymorphism of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene in intron 2. Clinical data were collected from medical records. Values are given as means or medians. Statistical power to identify a difference in occurrence of interleukin-1β promoter, interleukin-1β exon 5, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms in women with preeclampsia compared with controls was 21%, 15.9%, and 30.9%, respectively. Results: We found no association between any single polymorphism and occurrence of preeclampsia. Among women with preeclampsia, those with polymorphism of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene had higher mean systolic blood pressure (BP) at admission (178 ± 33.4 versus 159 ± 19.5 mmHg, P = .039). When all three polymorphisms combined were evaluated, women with preeclampsia and at least three mutant alleles (n = 8) had higher mean systolic BP at admission (182 ± 30 versus 160 ± 20.5 mmHg, P = .009) and increased alanine aminotransferase (67 [10–1024] versus 20 [3–407] IU/L, P = .04) and aspartate aminotransferase (119 [25–2239] versus 24 [4–489] IU/L, P = .002). At admission, BP in controls was independent of any polymorphism identified. Conclusion: Although the power of this study was limited, our data do not support a role for polymorphisms of the interleukin-1β and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist genes in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia among Hispanic women. Our findings do suggest that polymorphisms within the gene cluster might influence severity of preeclampsia.
Novel Microfabricated Pd-Au/SiO2 Model Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of 1,3-Butadiene

Model Pd-Au/SiO 2 catalysts were prepared via a microfabrication methodology and their catalytic activity was evaluated using the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene as a probe reaction. The catalytic particles of the microfabricated catalyst were Pd-Au squares, ranging in composition, each approximately 4 µm in size and separated by 4 µm on a silica/silicon support. The reaction was carried out at atmospheric pressure with a hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio of 125. The bimetallic catalysts exhibited lower apparent activation energies than the pure Pd catalyst with a minimum occurring at ˜65 at% Pd. Corresponding to the decrease in activation energy, there is an increase in the turnover frequency over the monometallic catalyst at low temperatures, i.e. room temperature. At high temperatures (above 200°C) the pure Pd catalyst has the highest conversion (0.61) and the largest pre-exponential factor (4.71×10 16 cc/g Pd/s), while the 73 at% Pd catalyst has the lowest conversion (0.45) and the smallest pre-exponential factor (5.59 × 10 6 cc/g Pd/s). The bimetallic catalysts also showed a higher selectivity towards 1-butene than the monometallic catalyst; however, at lower conversions (less than 25%) the pure Pd catalyst was more selectivity towards 1-butene. AFM was used to characterize the surface morphology of each of the samples.
Local alignment of two-base encoded DNA sequence

DNA sequence comparison is based on optimal local alignment of two sequences using a similarity score. However, some new DNA sequencing technologies do not directly measure the base sequence, but rather an encoded form, such as the two-base encoding considered here. In order to compare such data to a reference sequence, the data must be decoded into sequence. The decoding is deterministic, but the possibility of measurement errors requires searching among all possible error modes and resulting alignments to achieve an optimal balance of fewer errors versus greater sequence similarity. We present an extension of the standard dynamic programming method for local alignment, which simultaneously decodes the data and performs the alignment, maximizing a similarity score based on a weighted combination of errors and edits, and allowing an affine gap penalty. We also present simulations that demonstrate the performance characteristics of our two base encoded alignment method and contrast those with standard DNA sequence alignment under the same conditions. The new local alignment algorithm for two-base encoded data has substantial power to properly detect and correct measurement errors while identifying underlying sequence variants, and facilitating genome re-sequencing efforts based on this form of sequence data.
Role of E.coli transcription-repair coupling factor Mfd in Nun-mediated transcription termination.

Phage HK022 Nun protein excludes phage lambda by binding nascent lambda-nut RNA and inducing termination and transcript release. In contrast, in a purified in vitro system, Nun arrests transcription on lambdaDNA templates without dissociation of the transcription elongation complex (TEC). Our evidence indicates that transcription-repair coupling factor (Mfd) frees Nun-arrested RNA polymerase. The activity of Nun is enhanced in an mfd-null mutant, consistent with prolonged association of Nun with the TEC. Furthermore, expression of lambda nut RNA in the mfd mutant titrates Nun, allowing superinfecting lambda to form plaques. Finally, addition of Mfd releases a Nun-arrested transcription complex in vitro.
Probabilistic language analysis of weighted voting algorithms

We present a method of analyzing the performance of weighted voting algorithms in a fault-tolerant distributed system. In many distributed systems, some processors send messages more frequently than others and all processors share a common communication medium, such as an Ethernet. Typical fault-tolerant voting algorithms require that a certain minimum number of votes be collected from different processors. System performance is significantly affected by the time required to collect those votes. We formulate the problem of weighted voting in terms of probabilistic languages and then use the calculus of generating functions to compute the expected delay to collect that number of votes. An application of the method to a particular voting algorithm, the Total protocol, is given.
Diastrophic dysplasia: evidence against a defect of type II collagen

Abstract A description of an abnormal segment-long-spacing crystallite (SLS) pattern has been reported for type II collagen from patients with diastrophic dysplasia (Stanescu et al., 1982a), a disorder that is characterized by large collagen fibrils in the cartilage matrix. The abnormal SLS consisted of an altered electron density between bands 42 and 45, which was interpreted as an abnormality in the type II collagen molecule. It was suggested that the type II collagen is abnormal in diastrophic dysplasia. We have examined SLS of type II collagen from two patients with diastrophic dysplasia and found the SLS patterns to be identical with that of control type II SLS in almost all micrographs. In a few micrographs of diastrophic SLS, crystallites exhibiting the pattern reported by Stanescu et al. were seen. However, the abnormally patterned crystallites always consisted of dimers that were overlapped at the COOH ends in such a way that an electron dense band of one crystallite was positioned between bands 42 and 45 of the second crystallite, apparently creating the abnormal pattern. The abnormal SLS pattern seen in these cases of diastrophic dysplasia appears to be the result of overlapping crystallites and may not be the result of an intrinsic abnormality of . type II collagen. We have constructed histograms of the collagen fibril diameters in diastrophic cartilage. While they are larger than normal collagen fibrils, this by itself does not indicate an abnormality of type II collagen. We have shown that large fibrils such as these can be obtained from normal type II collagen when the structure of the cartilage is disrupted by extraction with guanidine. Additionally, both intact chains and CNBr peptides from type II collagen from patients with diastrophic dysplasia exhibit normal electrophoretic mobility on both 1-D and 2-D gels. We suggest that the abnormal SLS pattern may be an artifact. Our studies do not indicate that the type II collagen is abnormal in these cases of diastrophic dysplasia.
EUS-guided trucut needle biopsies in patients with solid pancreatic masses: a prospective study.

Abstract Background A trucut needle biopsy device that can be used to obtain specimens from the pancreas and other perigastric organs under EUS guidance has been developed and successfully tested in animals. Moreover, EUS-guided trucut needle biopsy has been used safely in humans and appears to provide more accurate results than EUS-guided FNA. This study prospectively assessed the clinical utility of this new device in patients with solid pancreatic masses. Methods Twenty-three consecutive patients with radiologically detected solid pancreatic masses underwent EUS-guided trucut needle biopsy. Pancreatic malignancy detected by EUS-guided trucut needle biopsy was considered a definitive diagnosis. Further diagnostic procedures and clinical course were used to establish or exclude the presence of malignancy in all other patients. Results Pancreatic tissue was obtained in 17 of the 23 patients (74%), including all patients in whom the transgastric approach was used. No acute or long-term complication was observed. Histopathologic evaluation revealed pancreatic cancer in 12 patients. CT-guided biopsy specimens were obtained in 4 of the 5 patients with a negative EUS-guided trucut needle biopsy result; two were positive for adenocarcinoma. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 61%. Subgroup analysis of the 16 patients in whom EUS-guided trucut needle biopsy was successful and who were available for follow-up revealed a diagnostic accuracy of 87.5%. Conclusions This prospective study demonstrates that EUS-guided trucut needle biopsy, when performed transgastrically, is safe and accurate in the evaluation of patients with solid pancreatic masses.
A conjugate-gradient optimization method invariant to nonlinear scaling

A conjugate-gradient optimization method which is invariant to nonlinear scaling of a quadratic form is introduced. The technique has the property that the search directions generated are identical to those produced by the classical Fletcher-Reeves algorithm applied to the quadratic form. The approach enables certain nonquadratic functions to be minimized in a finite number of steps. Several examples which illustrate the efficacy of the method are included.
Using fractional derivatives as “degree of symmetry” to characterize natural shapes

Abstract We propose to model shapes and features in order to recognize the unusual, or novel, in the presence of the ordinary especially when we lack a basis set of known patterns with which to conduct a search for the unknown. Our method is based on a novel abstraction called degree of symmetry and suggests that any feature or shape can be decomposed into two orthogonal components: one associated with a fractional degree of symmetry, and the other with a mirror, fractional degree of anti-symmetry. In this framework, we associate the measure of symmetry with fractional-order derivatives, and propose that every feature can be represented as f ( x ) = A G σ 1 α ( x ) + B G σ 2 n ∓ α ( ± x ) where n∈Nodd and G σ α denotes the αth order fractional derivative of a symmetric Schwartz function G with width σ. A/B, α, and σ1/σ2 are our parameters. These parameters induce a 3-D representation space to detect, classify and characterize features. We show that the footprint of wavelet transform coefficients particularly their decay characteristics help us determine the parameters of our model. We have processed 21 cm interstellar neutral hydrogen spectra collected synoptically by the 150-foot Stanford Radio Telescope to search for unusual structures, and examples obtained using our fractional symmetry transformations illustrate the utility of our approach.
CRITIQUE OF CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATIONS BY THE LEGAL PROFESSION

This study explored the congruency between child custody evaluations and the needs of the legal profession. One hundred twenty-one judges and attorneys were surveyed. In general, both groups expressed similar attitudes and beliefs. Findings indicated that court-ordered evaluations were most useful, and objectivity was paramount. Judges and attorneys also expressed a need for improvements in child custody reports, particularly greater child focus, pro- vision of custody and visitation recommendations. discussion of legal criteria, and timely completion ofevaluations. It is hoped that the findings will inform professional practice and help evaluators better serve the needs of the family court. How well do mental health professionals serve the family court? This is a fundamental issue that requires close examination due to the increased reliance on mental health expertise in the family court system (Mason & Quirk, 1997). Because mental health professionals have different training, expertise, and roles than legal professionals, it is imperative to exam- ine the congruency between the needs and desires of the legal profession and what mental health professionals are seen as providing in child custody evaluations and reports. Further- more, within the legal profession, judges and attorneys may have varying views of such eval- uations because of their particularroles in the court system. Consequently, it is also critical to explore any possible discrepant views among these legal groups. Through analyzing the beliefs and attitudes of judges and attorneys about child custody evaluations and reports, it is hoped that mental health professionals will better understand and serve the family court. Past research has focused on the practices and procedures used by child custody evalua- tors (Ackerman & Ackerman, 1996; Bow & Quinnell, 2001; Keilin & Bloom, 1986; LaFortune & Carpenter, 1998). Bow and Quinnell(2001) studied 198 psychologists from 38 states and found improvements in the quality of child custody evaluations conducted by psy- chologists over the past 15 years. Overall, the evaluations were more comprehensive and closely followed custody evaluation guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (1994). Nevertheless, the extent to which these practices and procedures are congruent with the needs of the legal profession is debatable. Furthermore, among mental health professionals, there is ongoing argument over the role of the evaluator, the appropriateness of addressing the ultimate issue, and the sufficiency of research supporting child custody determination (Melton, Petrila, Poythress, & Slobogin, 1997; O'Donohue & Bradley, 1999; Weisz, 1999). All of these issues play a critical role in the evaluation process and directly impact the court's perception of mental health professionals.
The Role of OOH Binding Site and Pt Surface Structure on ORR Activities

We present experimentally observed molecular adsorbate coverages (e.g., O(H), OOH and HOOH) on real operating dealloyed bimetallic PtMx (M = Ni or Co) catalysts under oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) conditions obtained using X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES). The results reveal a complex Sabatier catalysis behavior and indicate the active ORR mechanism changes with Pt-O bond weakening from the O2 dissociative mechanism, to the peroxyl mechanism, and finally to the hydrogen peroxide mechanism. An important rearrangement of the OOH binding site, an intermediate in the ORR, enables facile H addition to OOH and faster O-O bond breaking on 111 faces at optimal Pt-O bonding strength, such as that occurring in dealloyed PtM core-shell nanoparticles. This rearrangement is identified by previous DFT calculations and confirmed from in situ measured OOH adsorption coverages during the ORR. The importance of surface structural effects and 111 ordered faces is confirmed by the higher specific ORR rates on solid core vs porous multi-core nanoparticles.
Soil microbial biomass and nitrogen dynamics in a turfgrass chronosequence: A short-term response to turfgrass clipping addition

Abstract A mechanistic understanding of soil microbial biomass and N dynamics following turfgrass clipping addition is central to understanding turfgrass ecology. New leaves represent a strong sink for soil and fertilizer N, and when mowed, a significant addition to soil organic N. Understanding the mineralization dynamics of clipping N should help in developing strategies to minimize N losses via leaching and denitrification. We characterized soil microbial biomass and N mineralization and immobilization turnover in response to clipping addition in a turfgrass chronosequence (i.e. 3, 8, 25, and 97 yr old) and the adjacent native pines. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate the impacts of indigenous soil and microbial attributes associated with turf age and land use on the early phase decomposition of turfgrass clippings and (2) to estimate mineralization dynamics of turfgrass clippings and subsequent effects on N mineralization of indigenous soils. We conducted a 28-d laboratory incubation to determine short-term dynamics of soil microbial biomass, C decomposition, N mineralization and nitrification after soil incorporation of turfgrass clippings. Gross rates of N mineralization and immobilization were estimated with 15 N using a numerical model, FLAUZ. Turfgrass clippings decomposed rapidly; decomposition and mineralization equivalent to 20–30% of clipping C and N, respectively, occurred during the incubation. Turfgrass age had little effect on decomposition and net N mineralization. However, the response of potential nitrification to clipping addition was age dependent. In young turfgrass systems having low rates, potential nitrification increased significantly with clipping addition. In contrast, old turfgrass systems having high initial rates of potential nitrification were unaffected by clipping addition. Isotope 15 N modeling showed that gross N mineralization following clipping addition was not affected by turf age but differed between turfgrass and the adjacent native pines. The flush of mineralized N following clipping addition was derived predominantly from the clippings rather than soil organic N. Our data indicate that the response of soil microbial biomass and N mineralization and immobilization to clipping addition was essentially independent of indigenous soil and microbial attributes. Further, increases in microbial biomass and activity following clipping addition did not stimulate the mineralization of indigenous soil organic N.
Large-scale economic change and youth development: The case of urban China

This chapter considers how large-scale economic change in urban China affects youth development and outlines developmental mechanisms and labor-market moderators.
Mechanisms of neuroimmune gene induction in alcoholism

Rationale Alcoholism is a primary, chronic relapsing disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry. It is characterized by an individual’s continued drinking despite negative consequences related to alcohol use, which is exemplified by alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. Chronic alcohol consumption increases the expression of innate immune signaling molecules (ISMs) in the brain that alter cognitive processes and promote alcohol drinking. Objectives Unraveling the mechanisms of alcohol-induced neuroimmune geneinduction iscomplicated bypositiveloops of multiple cytokines and other signaling molecules that converge on nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells and activator protein-1 leading to induction of additional neuroimmune signaling molecules that amplify and expand the expression of ISMs. Results Studies from our laboratory employing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess mRNA, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis to assess protein expression, and others suggest that ethanol increases brain neuroimmune gene and protein expression through two distinct mechanisms involving (1) systemic induction of innate immune molecules that are transported from blood to the brain and (2) the direct release of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) from neurons in the brain. Released HMGB1 signals through multiple receptors, particularly Tolllike receptor (TLR) 4, that potentiate cytokine receptor responses leading to a hyperexcitable state that disrupts neuronal networks and increases excitotoxic neuronal death. Innate immune gene activation in brain is persistent, consistent with the chronic relapsing disease that is alcoholism. Expression of HMGB1, TLRs, and other ISMs is increased several-fold in the human orbital frontal cortex, and expression of these molecules is highly correlated with each other as well as lifetime alcohol consumption and age of drinking onset. Conclusions The persistent and cumulative nature of alcohol on HMGB1 and TLR gene induction support their involvement in alcohol-induced long-term changes in brain function and neurodegeneration.
6th Workshop on Challenges for Parallel Computing

There has been an overwhelming trend in recent years to move towards parallel computing. Hardware manufacturers are increasing the amount of parallelism on a single chip in several ways, including adding more processing cores and adding accelerators to execute the same instructions on many data items simultaneously. At the other end of the spectrum, as commodity hardware prices fall, it has become increasingly affordable to build large-scale multi-node distributed machines. Similarly, as processor speeds begin to stagnate, software developers will be forced to exploit the parallelism in their applications in order to continue to improve the performance.
Lower extremity joint coupling during running: a current update.

Abstract Background. The relationship between lower extremity mechanics and injury is not well understood. However, joint coupling studies are beginning to emerge, which may lend further insight into running biomechanics. Purpose. To provide a current review of the research examining lower extremity joint coupling in running. Summary. There are various techniques utilized to measure joint coupling, including joint timing, rearfoot eversion/tibial internal rotation ratios, continuous relative phase calculations, and vector coding. The study of joint coupling is of particular interest as it may pertain to running injuries. There is some evidence that joint coupling may be altered with orthotics and/or with footwear. Most studies have included a relatively small sample size and larger scale studies are needed to quantify normal ranges for many of the coupling measures. In addition, prospective studies are needed to clarify the relationship to injury. Relevance It is hoped that this update will serve as a review of the current state of thought regarding lower extremity joint coupling during running. As greater insight into the role of joint coupling in injuries is gained, more optimal intervention and prevention strategies can be developed to minimize injury risk.
Islam and development

Abstract The backwardness of many contemporary Muslim countries is blamed by some writers on various aspects of Islamic beliefs and behavioural injunctions. It is shown in this paper that many of these arguments are based on flimsy grounds. The issue of whether Islam is an obstacle to development is dealt with. An attempt is made to introduce a better explanation for underdevelopment of many Muslim countries (at least in the Middle East area). Historical-institutional factors are emphasized. A case is made that, given the unique institutional nature of Islam, foreign domination (by the Ottoman Empire and later by European colonialism) resulted in stunted institutional development in the former territories of the Ottoman Empire, which is a basic reason for the present backwardness.
Turbofan engine blade pressure and acoustic radiation at simulated forward speed

Tests have been conducted on a JT15D-1 turbofan engine both statically and at simulated forward speed in the Ames 12 x 24 m Wind Tunnel. Both far-field acoustic data and unsteady pressure data from transducers mounted on the fan blades were acquired. Results showed a sound power reduction of about 10 dB in the farfield acoustic levels with simulated forward speed over that measured without forward speed. Blade-mounted transducer results showed rotor-turbulence interaction dominated the noise field at very low speeds while an interaction between the rotor and internal struts dominated at higher speeds. Results are presented to show the effects of varying engine revolutions per minute, changing the angle of attack of the engine inlet to tunnel flow, and mounting an aircraft wing to simulate an installation condition on a actual aircraft.
A wind tunnel inlet flow simulation

Method The inlet flow is simulated by solving the unsteady compressible Euler equations in three dimensions using MacCormack's explicit predictor-corrector scheme1'2 in Cartesian coordinates with a finite volume formulation. The Euler code used here is a modified version3 of that used in Ref. 4. The code was used to simulate the flow induced in the wind tunnel by a fan downstream of the test section (sink-type flow). The three-dimensional computational grid for the inlet, as shown in Fig. 1, is divided into two zones. The grid is generated algebraically and plane by plane using an interpolation scheme. The grid size for zone 1 is 1 1 x 32 x 30 and for zone 2 is 39 x 19 x 17. The nozzle has a 5:1 contraction ratio, defined from where the inlet cowl ends (the x = 0 cross-flow plane) to the test section. A planar grid, enlarged near the cowl and representing a horizontal cut (i.e., the z plane), is shown in Fig. 2. The computations are carried out corresponding to quiescent atmospheric conditions at the upstream boundary. Initially, stagnation conditions are imposed everywhere. The pressure drop that generates the flow in the inlet and yields a given test section velocity is introduced at the downstream boundary gradually in time. The flow can be imagined to exit at the downstream boundary at somewhat lower than the upstream stagnation pressure. This pressure is given by Pe =Ps ~
Resistance and Alternatives to Washington’s Agenda for the Americas The Prospects for Regional versus Hemispheric Integration

There is growing opposition among many Latin American and Caribbean governments, and from a broad spectrum of civil society organizations, to the hemispheric free trade regime that the United States government and the international financial institutions and US transnational corporations have been trying to impose on the region. This opposition represents a serious challenge to US hegemony and growing conflict over the nature and direction of capitalist development in the region. It seems increasingly possible that these forces and conditions will transform the nature of inter-American relations and bring about the regional integration of Latin America and the Caribbean. Further, it may do so in accordance with a progressive regional agenda rather than Washington’s neoliberal agenda for integrating the western hemisphere under US hegemony.
Ion accelerators and electron scattering

Abstract Several problems of fundamental importance to physics involving highly correlated and few body systems are being addressed in our laboratories. In particular, the breakup of three low energy charged particles is being studied using crossed beams of electrons and ions. The systems involved can consist of the excitation and dissociation of molecular ions or the resonant excitation-auto-double ionization (READI) of simple atomic ions. The use of particle accelerators in conjunction with electron beams provide a unique combination of tools for studies of this nature. We have constructed an apparatus to measure multiparameter angular correlations between reaction products following electron impact ionization of ionic targets to obtain alignment and orientation information. With molecular targets, ground and excited state potential energy diagrams may also be obtained. We will measure the momentum of all reaction products and provide a stringent experimental test of near threshold three-body theory which could lead to a general theoretical treatment for three particles interacting via a Coulomb field.
Rhinosinusitis in children: A comparison of patients requiring surgery for acute complications versus chronic disease

Abstract Background Patient characteristics, risk factors, and microbiology are important to consider in the management of complications of acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS) in pediatric patients. This study evaluates this subset of patients and compares them to patients that undergo surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods This study is a retrospective review of all pediatric patients from 2002 to 2011, who underwent sinus surgery at a tertiary hospital. Patients who underwent surgery for ABS complication were compared to patients who underwent surgery for CRS. Statistical analysis was completed using chi-square test or Fisher's exact test with a statistical significance set at p Results Twenty-seven patients with a complication of ABS and 77 patients with CRS were analyzed. The groups did not differ demographically. Patients with a complication were statistically less likely to have seasonal allergies, prior sinusitis, prior nasal steroid use, or adenoidectomy ( p p Streptococcus milleri (30.8%), and normal flora (19.2%) in ABS for the with a complication group, and normal flora (41.5%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus (22%), and Propionobacterium (19.5%) for the CRS group. Most prevalent complications were preseptal cellulitis (55.5%), orbital subperiosteal abscess (29.6%), subgaleal abscess (22%), and epidural abscess (22%). Five patients had simultaneous orbital and intracranial complications. Conclusions Patients who present with complications of ABS vary significantly from the CRS patients. Location of most commonly affected sinuses and microbiology also differ and is crucial for understanding the management of this disease process.
Staffing and the mealtime experience of nursing home residents on a Special Care Unit

As part of a study that examined the social, cultural, clinical, and environmental factors that influence eating behavior in nursing homes, the effect of staffing on the mealtime experience of residents in a Special Care Unit (SCU) for dementia patients was investigated. An adequate staff to resident ratio, the presence of a knowledgeable and skillful nursing assistant who was an excellent role model, and sufficient supervision positively affected the experience of residents, making lunchtime a pleasant and nourishing event. In the evening, however; overtaxed and poorly supervised aides resorted to strategies that made dinnertime a hurried, unpleasant experience and put residents under duress. A discussion of how to provide extra help at mealtime, improve the education and training of staff, and enhance supervision at mealtime is presented.
You are born with your genes: justice and protection against discrimination in the use of genetic information.

Genetic information poses an apparent paradox for justice in health care. On the one hand, genetic information seems to be exactly the kind of information that it is unjust to take into account in the distribution of important goods. On the other hand, genetic information may increasingly become useful in individual patient care as evidence for personalized medicine increases. Although it is important to emphasize the difference between genetic information and the social construct of race, nonetheless, the historical interplay between discrimination based on assumptions about heritability and discrimination based on race are significant. Thus, this article defends the importance of paying very close attention to protections in the use of genetic information. Three current examples of inadequate protection are cited. First, informed consent to genetic testing should incorporate potential confidentiality risks raised by this information. Second, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act is too porous to protect employees from their employers' possession of genetic information; if such information is used in discriminatory ways, burdens of seeking protection then fall on the employees. More stringent strategies for protecting information are thus desirable. Finally, current designs of interoperable health records fail to allow for the sequestration of genetic information. Efforts to develop such sequestration techniques should be encouraged; among other benefits, they would be helpful in shielding genetic information from employers. Mt Sinai J Med 77:188–196, 2010. © 2010 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Continent catheterizable urinary conduit constructed from defunctionalized colon

The authors describe a technique for construction of a continent catheterizable stoma from distal defunctionalized colon in a patient with imperforate anus, urethral atresia, and sacral agenesis.
The resonance phenomenon in thermal waves

Abstract The thermal resonance of temperature wave propagating in a solid with finite speed of heat propagation is studied in this work. The emphasis is placed on the externally applied exciting frequency, in relation to the modal frequency of the thermal waves, at which the amplitude of the thermal waves reaches a maximum. The amplitude of thermal waves thus excited will be related to the exciting frequencies as well as the modal frequencies of the modes. It has been shown that the thermal resonance is a high-mode phenomenon which exists only for the mode with its eigenmode number exceeding a critical value. This critical value depends on the relaxation distance, an intrinsic thermal property extended from the relaxation time, of the solid medium. Such an unusual phenomenon is attributed to the distributions of the over- and the under-damped modes of thermal waves in propagation.
Cytochrome patterns in Rhizobium japonicum cells grown under chemolithotrophic conditions

The addition of H2 to suspensions of chemolithotrophically grown Rhizobium japonicum strikingly increased the rates of reduction of cytochromes of the b and c-types. There was no effect of H2, however, on the cytochrome reduction rates of suspensions of heterotrophically cultured cells which do not show hydrogenase activity. An additional component whose difference spectrum appears to be similar to that of b-type cytochromes was found in chemolithotrophically grown R. japonicum. The behavior of this additional component in the presence and absence of H2 and KCN was investigated and it is concluded that it is involved in H2 metabolism.
The effect of added salt on the flow of highly dilute solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) polymers

Early transition, early turbulence, and drag reduction were detected in flowing solutions of high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) condensates. Progressive addition of salt (magnesium sulfate) increased the onset point characterizing deviations from Newtonian flow for 1 ppm Polyox Coagulant solutions and eliminated early transition in the 10 ppm WSR-35 solutions. No further drag reduction was observed when the salt molarity reached the 0.65 level. In the Coagulant solutions the onset wall shear stress characterizing the flow deviation was an inverse function of the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer in the salt solution.
Structure and Dynamics of a Magnetron DC Arc Plasma

A direct-current are plasma generator is described which uses a concentric electrode configuration and a magnetic field parallel to the electrode axis to obtain rotation of the are current channel at a frequency in the 1-3 kHz range. The anode is a hollow graphite cylinder, and the cathode is a thoriated tungsten wire. A magnetic field of several hundred gauss is obtained from one or more ring-shaped permanent ceramic magnets. For a 5-mm anode diameter, the plasma is diffuse, and the current channel has the form of a thin radial sheet which undergoes relatively small periodic perturbations at the rotational frequency. Design features, performance data, and plasma structure are considered.
Synthesis and Liquid Crystal Properties of Some Urethans

The urethan (carbamate) linkage (-NHCOO-) has been investigated as a central group in liquid crystal systems. Cholesteryl N-para-substituted-phenylcarbamates exhibit cholesteric mesophases with mes...
COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH CULTURAL ADAPTATION

As more organizations expand into the international marketplace, cultural barriers become a major threat to the ability of a firm to compete in the global marketplace. Culture varies radically among different ethnic groups and societies. It influences and is influenced by beliefs, customs, language, institutions, standards, and religion. Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado, stressed in one of his syndicated columns that the culture of a country is a main determinate of whether new technology will be accepted in a country. The acceptance of the new technology is especially critical to competitiveness when a firm establishes operations and employs workers in a foreign country.
P-354 - Adolescents with major depression demonstrate altered amygdala functional connectivity: A 3-t functional MRI study

Introduction Heightened emotional reactivity and amygdala activation have each been shown to play a role in the etiology of adolescent-onset major depressive disorder. However, the link between emotional reactivity and amygdala response in adolescent-onset major depression is not well understood. Objectives In this study, we compared amygdala activation during an emotional regulation task in depressed and healthy adolescents. Aims We conducted a functional connectivity analysis to examine the neural correlates of amygdala reactivity during emotion regulation in adolescent depression. Methods Fourteen unmedicated adolescents diagnosed with current depression without comorbid psychiatric disorders and fourteen well-matched controls ages 13 to 17 years underwent an emotional regulation task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Participants were asked to either notice how they were feeling (“Maintain”) or employ cognitive reappraisal strategies (“Reduce”) while viewing negatively-valence images. Results Imaging analyses demonstrated that depressed adolescents: (1) had greater right amygdala activation during the maintain condition relative to controls, (2) showed less connectivity during the maintain condition between the amygdala and both the insula and medial prefrontal cortex than controls, and (3) showed a significant positive correlation between amygdala-seeded connectivity during maintenance of emotion and psychosocial functioning. Conclusions During the maintain condition, depressed adolescents showed a heightened amygdala response and less reciprocal activation in brain regions that may modulate the amygdala. A poorly modulated, overreactive amygdala may contribute to heightened emotional reactivity. Adolescents with depression may benefit from treatments that: (1) reduce amygdala hyper-reactivity, (2) improve cognitive control of affective circuits, and (3) improve skills in self-awareness.
Preliminary observations on the ecology and behavior of the Capped Langur,Presbytis pileatus, in the Madhupur forest of Bangladesh

Between the rainy season months of July and November 1976, the author censused and intensively studied for 50 hr the capped langur,Presbytis pileatus, in the Madhupur Forest, Bangladesh. Transects were made in the forest to provide tree girth and height measurements. The predominant tree species is sal,Shorea robusta. The mean group size for capped langur troops observed in excess of 1 hr was 8.7, and that for troops censused for less than 1 hr, 7.5. Troops were primarily unimale, but one all-male band of four and a solitary adult male were sighted. The adult sex ratio of females to males was 2:1. The equivalent ecological density for intensively studied troops was 92 individuals/km2. Estimated ecological biomass was equal to 716.5 kg/km2. A daily activity profile shows that the capped langur has a bimodal feeding schedule. Midday is clearly a rest period. Adult males spend much time in sentinel behavior and an unusual penile display is described. Instances of intergroup antagonism are detailed. Fighting was observed on one occasion. Vocalizations are described by context of emission.
Telemetry Circuits in a Pulsed Radiation Environment

Radiation effects have become a serious problem for designers of space vehicle electronic equipment. By simulating the environment and irradiating various components and circuits more and more data have become available for engineering application. However, it has not been possible to simulate the pulsed radiation environment correctly, because it has not been possible to obtain the high radiation intensities occurring in the actual environment. The following represents experimental data obtained at radiation intensities >1012 RADS/sec. This was an intensity 4 to 5 orders of magnitude greater than what had been achieved in previous experimental data.
Ellipsometric Study of Superfluid Onset in Thin Liquid 4Helium Films

We have developed a modulated null ellipsometer capable of measuring single layers of adsorbed 4He films at 1.4 K. The small optical index of liquid helium, the extreme sensitivity to temperature gradients, and the requirement of sub-monolayer stability over many hours presents significant experimental challenges, which will be briefly discussed. The main goal of our experiments is to independently measure the superfluid and normal coverage in thin adsorbed 4He films. This is a particularly important issue for helium films on intermediate strength substrates such as rubidium and thin cesium, where previous measurements indicate that prewetting and the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition interact strongly, and the K-T transition appears to have nonuniversal features. Independent determination of the superfluid and normal fraction can be accomplished by using the ellipsometer in conjunction with a quartz crystal micro balance (QCM). QCM measurements rely on viscous coupling of the fluid layers, and therefore respond only to the normal component of a 4He film. In contrast, the ellipsometer is sensitive to the total thickness, independent of the state (superfluid or normal) of the film. By combining the QCM and ellipsometric measurements we can determine the total coverage, the normal fluid component and thus the superfluid fraction.
How Electronic Journals Are Changing Patterns of Use

SUMMARY Surveys of faculty, students, and scientists in non-university settings over time show that journals and journal articles continue to be a valued resource. Scientists today read from a variety of sources including print journals, electronic journals, e-print servers, and full-text databases; the amounts for each vary with subject discipline and library collection decisions. Scientists expect the library to provide resources and electronic journals that are designed to meet the needs of their specific discipline.
Sources of variability in birth defects prevalence rates.

Background: The characteristics and methodologies of state-based birth defect surveillance systems might influence reported prevalence rates, making comparisons among states difficult. Standardizing methods to minimize variability beyond true differences in prevalence will aid national surveillance efforts and birth defects prevention programs. Methods: Using data provided in the January 2000 Congenital Malformations Surveillance Report from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, we characterized the surveillance methodologies among all sites. We then identified prevalence rates that are highly varied among systems that use each of our specified methodologies. We also examined the standards used by other collective health registries that exist across geographical boundaries. Results: Large differences in prevalence rates across case ascertainment methods (active, passive, or combination of both) were observed for some conditions, but not for others. We identified additional factors which may influence prevalence rates, including case ascertainment sources, case inclusion criteria, and inclusion of elective terminations and stillbirths. The impact of each of these factors on prevalence rates may be defect-specific. Conclusions: We conclude that while some variability is expected due to differences in the true prevalence of birth defects, extreme differences among states are more likely due to differences in surveillance practices. The Birth Defects Prevention Act prompted new initiatives to develop birth defect surveillance systems, but there are no nationally agreed upon standards in existence to guide the process. This study was performed in support of developing standards that will influence new and existing state surveillance systems.
The populism of fear Politics of crime in the Americas

In democratic countries, at least in the western hemisphere, there has been a political trend toward appealing to the fear of crime as a popular issue in electoral campaigns, as well as more generally as a way of attracting public notice. The trend is likely to be particularly strong in countries in which major offices are openly contested for election, but economic inequality is pronounced and the willingness or ability of the government to deliver social services is limited. Under those conditions, there is a strong temptation to find an issue that will appeal to all classes; the issue of crime and the consequent fear of insecurity is an obvious issue that is frequently used and is sometimes even exaggerated in the hope of enlisting popular support. This article examines this phenomenon in recent years in Argentina, particularly in Buenos Aires, in Brazil, particularly in Sao Paulo, in Mexico and Mexico City, and in the USA, as exemplified by New York State.
The role of expectation in the therapeutic outcomes of alcohol and drug addiction treatments.

Throughout history, patient–physician relationships have been acknowledged as an important component of the therapeutic effects of any pharmacological treatment. Here, we discuss the role of physicians' expectations in influencing the therapeutic outcomes of alcohol and drug addiction pharmacological treatments. As largely demonstrated, such expectations and attitudes may contribute to produce placebo and nocebo effects that in turn affect the course of the disease and the response to the therapy. This article is aimed at discussing the current insights into expectations, placebo and nocebo mechanisms and their impact on the therapeutic outcomes of alcohol and drug addiction treatments; with the goal of informing physicians and other health care providers about the potentially widespread implications for clinical practice and for a successful treatment regimen.
A slit scanning depth of route panorama from stationary blur

This work achieves an efficient acquisition of scenes and their depths along streets. During the movement of a vehicle, a slit in the camera frame is set properly to sample scenes continuously for a route panorama. This paper proposes a novel method of depth estimation by analyzing a new phenomenon named stationary blur in the route panorama. We find its relation with the depth and evaluate its degree at local and global levels. The depth estimation through filtering avoids feature matching and tracking that are error-prone in the scanning of real and complex street scenes. Our method provides reliable results but requires much less data than that of the structure from motion. This keeps the elegance of the route panorama in data representation, and is suitable for real time sensor development. Utilizing the completeness of the route panorama in the scene archiving, we can generate planar models of streets, which can be used in city visualization.
Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Low Carbon Steel in Concentrated Geologic Vadose Waters

Abstract The corrosion performance of type 1016 (UNS G10160) low-carbon steel (LCS) was evaluated by direct current (DC) polarization techniques in waters with concentrated solutes expected in the ...