cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Meta-analysis.

Objectives To determine the prevalence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) attributable to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in the global pediatric population and to identify factors contributing to its severity. Study design Meta-analysis. Methods We performed a comprehensive literature search for scientific articles in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library that reported the incidence of hearing loss in populations under 18 years of age with excluding studies analyzing patients on iron chelation therapy, adults, or those without objective audiological analysis. Results We identified 138 initial studies with 17 selected for analysis after applying the exclusion criteria. A total of 1,282 SCD patients and 553 controls were included in the meta-analysis. There was a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of SNHL in children with SCD compared to the general population with a cumulative risk ratio of 3.33. Conclusion This is the first systematic investigation of the relationship between SCD and SNHL in pediatric patients across the globe. The increased prevalence of SNHL in the pediatric SCD population warrants future research into the predictors of SNHL severity and merits routine audiometric monitoring of SCD patients to reduce the social and developmental morbidity of hearing loss at a young age. PROSPERO Registration #: CRD42019132601. Laryngoscope, 131:1147-1156, 2021.
Biased estimation with shared parameter models in the presence of competing dropout mechanisms.

Recently, Thomadakis et al. quantified potential sources of bias that can occur when shared parameter (SP) models are used to jointly model longitudinal trends of a biomarker over time (e.g., a slope) and time-to-dropout in an effort to address concerns over possible informative censoring. Although SP models induce no bias under a missingness completely at random dropout mechanism, the authors demonstrate that bias can occur under a missingness at random (MAR) dropout mechanism wherein dropout depends on the observed biomarker data. To address this, the authors propose including the most recent observed marker value within the hazard function for the time-to-dropout portion of an SP model. They demonstrate via a limited simulation that the proposed model minimizes bias under a specific MAR dropout mechanism and a specific missingness not-at-random dropout mechanism. In the present article, we compare and contrast their work with that of previous authors by illustrating via simulation and an example the degree of bias or lack thereof that can occur when applying SP models, particularly, in the presence of competing dropout mechanisms. We propose the use of a competing risk SP model as a means to minimize bias whenever competing dropout mechanisms are suspected assuming the competing mechanisms result from distinct observable causes of dropout.
SHarD: A beam dynamics simulation code for dielectric laser accelerators based on spatial harmonic field expansion

Abstract In order to demonstrate acceleration of electrons to relativistic scales by an on chip dielectric laser accelerator (DLA), a ponderomotive focusing scheme capable of capturing and transporting electrons through nanometer-scale apertures over extended interaction lengths has been proposed. We present a Matlab-based numerical code (SHarD) utilizing a spatial harmonic expansion of the fields within the dielectric structure to simulate the evolution of the beam phase space distribution in this scheme. The code can be used to optimize key-parameters for the accelerator performance such as the final energy, transverse spot size evolution and total number of electrons accelerated through currently fabricated structures. Eventually, the simulation model will be applied to inform the phase mask profile to be added to a pulse front tilt drive laser pulse using a liquid crystal mask in the experimental setup being assembled at UCLA Pegasus Laboratory.
Derivation and Validation of a Risk Factor Model to Identify Medical Inpatients at Risk for Venous Thromboembolism.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is recommended for hospitalized medical patients at high risk for VTE. Multiple risk assessment models exist, but few have been compared in large data sets. Methods: We constructed a derivation cohort using 6 years of data from 13 hospitals to identify risk factors associated with developing VTE within 14 days of admission. VTE was identified using a complex algorithm combining administrative codes and clinical data. We developed a multivariable prediction model and applied it to 2 validation cohorts: a temporal cohort, including two additional years and a cross-validation, in which we refit the model excluding one hospital at a time, and applied the refitted model to the holdout hospital. Performance was evaluated using the C-statistic. Results: The derivation cohort included 160,928 patients with a 14-day VTE rate of 0.79%. The final multivariable model contained 13 patient risk factors. The model had an optimism corrected C-statistic of 0.80 and good calibration. The temporal validation cohort included 55,301 patients, with a VTE rate of 0.74%. Based on the c-statistic, the Cleveland Clinic Model (CCM) outperformed the Padua model (0.76 vs. 0.72, p<0.01). The CCM was more sensitive (65.8% vs. 60.4%, p=0.05) and more specific (74.9% vs. 71.4%, p<.001), with higher positive (1.9% vs. 1.5%, p<.001) and negative predictive values (99.7% vs. 99.6%, p=0.01). C-statistics for the CCM at individual hospitals ranged from 0.64 to 0.76. Conclusion: A new VTE risk assessment model outperformed the Padua model. After further validation it could be recommended for widespread use.
Characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films prepared by the sulfurization of co-sputtered metal precursors

In this work, we report on the synthesis and characterization of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) thin films prepared by annealing of co-sputtered metal precursors in sulfur atmosphere. Radio-frequency magnetron sputtering was applied to deposit the metal layers from single metal targets on Mo-coated soda-lime glass substrates. The chemical composition of the precursors was controlled by varying the sputtering working power, resulting in films with various compositions. X-ray fluorescence was used to determine the elemental concentration of these metal films. The metal precursors were then converted into CZTS in a tube furnace using different sulfurization conditions to investigate the effect of the annealing process on the properties of the final CZTS films. Film structural characterization and phase identification results were supported by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Surface and cross-sectional film morphology was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the sulfurized films, significant Sn loss was noticed. However, the loss of Sn was successfully controlled by depositing precursors with an excess of Sn. After optimizing the composition of the metal precursor, XRD and Raman scattering results revealed single-phase CZTS films without clear signs of secondary phases. SEM showed improved morphology in the form of dense structures and smooth surfaces for the films sulfurized at 600°C. Our first solar cell, based on a CZTS film originating from a precursor sulfurized at 550°C for 60 min, showed an open-circuit voltage of 471 mV, a short-circuit current density of 9.92 mA/cm -2 , a fill factor of 36.9%, and an efficiency of 1.72%.
Growth and Survival of Undesirable Bacteria in Cheese

The growth and survival of bacteria in foods, particularly in dairy products such as cheese, have been studied extensively; however, changes in dietary habits, the development of new technologies and formulations to meet the demands for cheeses of lower fat, cholesterol and calorie content, may create conditions which render cheese microbiologically unsafe for human consumption. To understand fully the concern for the safety of these foods, one must first be aware of the potential hazards, of how, why and where they occur and how they can be controlled or eliminated.
Medical Image Databases: A Content-based Retrieval Approach

Information contained in medical images differs considerably from that residing in alphanumeric format. The difference can be attributed to four characteristics: (1) the semantics of medical knowledge extractable from images is imprecise; (2) image information contains form and spatial data, which are not expressible in conventional language; (3) a large part of image information is geometric; (4) diagnostic inferences derived from images rest on an incomplete, continuously evolving model of normality. This paper explores the differentiating characteristics of text versus images and their impact on design of a medical image database intended to allow content-based indexing and retrieval. One strategy for implementing medical image databases is presented, which employs object-oriented iconic queries, semantics by association with prototypes, and a generic schema.
Sexual Justice, Student Scholarship and the So-Called Seven Sins

Encouraging creativity and risk is an important — and underappreciated — dimension of the mentor-student process in student scholarly writing. This article models an imaginative reflection on collaborative supervision that produces student scholarship. The organizational motif of "sins" connects to extra-legal cultural constructions that permeate everyday life, including the life of writing, and more specifically confronts the conflation of "sin" and "sex" that persists in legal and nonlegal discourse. The boundaries of legal academic writing, like the limitations of sexual freedom, are sites of anxiety for both mentors and students; this article suggests that these borders also can be places of adventure.
Transfer of iodide into amniotic fluid by the normal and the nephrectomized subhuman primate fetus.

Abstract A technique of bilateral fetal nephrectomy in utero was developed in the rhesus monkey near term. Pregnancy continued for periods of from 2 to 20 days after the operation and, in several instances, resulted in live-born baby monkeys. Diodrast-I 131 was injected into the fetal circulation via an interplacental vein. Amniotic fluid and maternal blood samples were obtained at various times after injection. The patterns of accumulation of radioactivity in maternal blood and within the amniotic sac were essentially identical in normal and nephrectomized fetuses, indicating the irrelevancy of the fetal kidneys in the transfer of iodide from fetus to amniotic fluid. On the other hand, little radioactivity reached the amniotic sac when the fetus had been deliberately killed in utero. These findings suggest that the commonly held tenet of fetal urine as a major constituent of amniotic fluid is open to question and implicate sources other than the kidneys in the contributions of the fetus to its fluid environment.
Sustained high yields of Gracilaria (Rhodophyta) grown in intensive large-scale culture

Gracilaria ferox J. Agardh was grown continuously in large, outdoor tanks under a pulse-fed nutrient regime for four years. Productivity ranged from 21.4 to 59.2 g d. wt m−2 d−1 with a mean of 39.7 g d. wt m−2 d−1 over the entire study period. Because the cultures were maintained under non-nutrient limiting conditions, productivity was regulated primarily by seasonal changes in light and temperature, which accounted for 75% of the variability of growth in algal yields. Salinity ranged from 31.0 to 36.5‰ and had insignificant effects on growth within this range. The original vegetative strain was maintained over the entire study without the need for additional supplementation from field-collected stock. Because of the pulse-fed nutrient supply, epiphytic growth on the target species was negligible (< 3% total biomass) throughout the study. The yields attained in this study rank among the highest reported for any intensively managed photosynthetic crop and demonstrate the feasibility of growing red macroalgae like Gracilaria at a sustained high yield in a large-scale, land-based culture system.
Use of bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements in the clinical management of critical illness.

I review the utility of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for assessing changes in body composition and content and distribution of body water in critically ill patients. Published studies suggest that resistance measurements provide a reasonable estimate of total body water but that the precision of the measurements is poor. Presently, BIA does not appear to be a useful clinical technique for measuring changes in body composition. Despite the limitations of current technology, the utility and efficacy of BIA merit evaluation in large, longitudinal studies if out understanding of the meaning of changes in the electrical properties of the body is to improve.
Qualitative Research and Community-Based Participatory Research: Considerations for Effective Dissemination in the Peer-Reviewed Literature

Background : Qualitative research is appearing with increasing frequency in the public health and medical literature. Qualitative research in combination with a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach can be powerful. However little guidance is available on how to present qualitative research within a CBPR framework for peer-review publications. Objectives : This article provides a brief overview of how qualitative research can advance CBPR partnerships and outlines practical guidelines for writing for publication about qualitative research within a CBPR framework to (1) guide partners with little experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals and/or (2) facilitate effective preparation of manuscripts grounded in qualitative research for peer-reviewed journals. We provide information regarding the specific benefits of qualitative inquiry in CBPR, tips for organizing the manuscript, questions to consider in preparing the manuscript, common mistakes in the presentation of qualitative research, and examples of peer-reviewed manuscripts presenting qualitative research conducted within a CBPR framework. Conclusions : Qualitative research approaches have tremendous potential to integrate community and researcher perspectives to inform community health research findings. Effective dissemination of CBPR informed qualitative research findings is crucial to advancing health disparities research.
Identifying tumor suppressors in genetic mosaics: the Drosophila lats gene encodes a putative protein kinase

We have identified recessive overproliferation mutations by screening and examining clones of mutant cells in genetic mosaics of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. This type of screen provides a powerful approach for identifying and studying potential tumor suppressors. One of the identified genes, lats, has been cloned and encodes a putative protein kinase that shares high levels of sequence similarity with three proteins in budding yeast and Neurospora that are involved in regulation of the cell cycle and growth. Mutations in lats cause dramatic overproliferation phenotypes and various developmental defects in both mosaic animals and homozygous mutants.
Multiobjective fractional programming duality theory

Results of Geoffrion for efficient and properly efficient solutions of multiobjective programming problems are extended to multiobjective fractional programming problems. Duality relationships are given for these problems where the functions are generalized convex or invex.
Momentive Performance Materials, Inc.

After getting close to violating its loan covenants in 2009, Momentive took a variety of actions over several months to restructure its debt. In particular, in May of 2009, Momentive had exchanged a fraction of its outstanding notes. In November of 2009, it proposed an amendment that sought to extend the maturity on the loan used to finance the Momentive buyout and allow issuance of senior secured notes. The case is set up from the perspective of a hedge fund that holds a fraction of Momentive's syndicated loan. The case serves as a vehicle for discussing contractual differences between public and private debt and challenges in its restructuring. Learning Objective: Debt restructuring and coordination problems among creditors.
Self-reproducing catalyst drives repeated phospholipid synthesis and membrane growth

Cell membranes are dynamic structures found in all living organisms. There have been numerous constructs that model phospholipid membranes. However, unlike natural membranes, these biomimetic systems cannot sustain growth owing to an inability to replenish phospholipid-synthesizing catalysts. Here we report on the design and synthesis of artificial membranes embedded with synthetic, self-reproducing catalysts capable of perpetuating phospholipid bilayer formation. Replacing the complex biochemical pathways used in nature with an autocatalyst that also drives lipid synthesis leads to the continual formation of triazole phospholipids and membrane-bound oligotriazole catalysts from simpler starting materials. In addition to continual phospholipid synthesis and vesicle growth, the synthetic membranes are capable of remodeling their physical composition in response to changes in the environment by preferentially incorporating specific precursors. These results demonstrate that complex membranes capable of indefinite self-synthesis can emerge when supplied with simpler chemical building blocks.
Weakly Supervised Supertagging with Grammar-Informed Initialization

Much previous work has investigated weak supervision with HMMs and tag dictionaries for part-of-speech tagging, but there have been no similar investigations for the harder problem of supertagging. Here, I show that weak supervision for supertagging does work, but that it is subject to severe performance degradation when the tag dictionary is highly ambiguous. I show that lexical category complexity and information about how supertags may combine syntactically can be used to initialize the transition distributions of a first-order Hidden Markov Model for weakly supervised learning. This initialization proves more effective than starting with uniform transitions, especially when the tag dictionary is highly ambiguous.
Quantitative determination of triclocarban in wastewater effluent by stir bar sorptive extraction and liquid desorption–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract Triclocarban is an antimicrobial and antibacterial agent found in personal care products and subsequently is a prevalent wastewater contaminant. A quantitative method was developed for the analysis of triclocarban in wastewater effluents using stir bar sorptive extraction–liquid desorption (SBSE–LD) followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) by means of an electrospray interface. A stir bar coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is placed within a vial containing wastewater effluent and is stirred for an hour at room temperature. The PDMS stir bar is then placed in a LC vial containing methanol and is desorbed in a sonicator bath. The methanol is evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in 75% methanol. Spike and recovery experiments in groundwater that did not contain native concentrations of triclocarban were performed at 0.5 μg/L and were 93 ± 8%. Recoveries in wastewater effluent that were corrected for the background levels of triclocarban were 92 ± 2% and 96 ± 5%, respectively, when spiked with 0.5 and 5 μg/L of triclocarban. The precision of the method as indicated by the relative standard error was 2%. The limit of quantitation was 10 ng/L. The SBSE–LD–LC/MS/MS method was applied to wastewater effluent samples collected from northeast Ohio. Triclocarban was quantitated in all five effluent samples, and its concentration ranged from 50 to 330 ng/L. The described method demonstrates a simple, green, low-sample volume, yet, sensitive method to measure triclocarban in aqueous matrices.
Purification and characterization of a novel human 15 kd cholesterol crystallization inhibitor protein in bile.

Abstract Crystallization-inhibiting proteins can explain longer nucleation times associated with bile from gallstone-free subjects as compared with bile from patients with cholesterol gallstones. We partially characterized and examined the crystallization inhibitory potency of a newly purified 15 kd human biliary protein. Gallbladder bile was passed through an anti-apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) immunoaffinity column to extract lipid-associated proteins. The bound fraction was separated by 30 kd ultrafiltration. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophesis (SDS-PAGE) was performed under nonreducing and reducing conditions. Cholesterol crystallization activity was tested in a photometric cholesterol crystal growth assay. Isoelectric focusing was performed by using a standard gel. The purified 15 kd protein was subjected to N-terminal amino acid sequencing. Although the whole apo AI-bound fraction contained a variety of proteins and lipids, its 30 kd filtrate yielded a nearly pure 15 kd protein with only minor contamination from apo A-I. Amino acid sequencing showed that the protein was unique. Enzymatic deglycosylation revealed no evidence for glycosylation. At a protein concentration of 10 μg/ml, crystallization time was delayed as compared with control and apo A-I, and final crystal mass was reduced to 75% of control. Its isoelectric point was 6.1 without isoforms. Under nonreducing conditions, the protein formed a 30 kd dimer and a 60 kd tetramer. We conclude that this protein is a novel potent biliary crystallization inhibitor protein.
Effect of stress-strain-law transients on formability

The effect of work-hardening changes, of the type that follow a rapid change of strain state or strain rate, on formability has been investigated using finite element modeling (FEM). A standard sheet tensile test was chosen as an arbitrary forming operation and a rigid-viscoplastic FEM program was employed for analysis. In each case, a transitional region of true strains between 0.1 and 0.2 was modeled. Transients involving lowered work-hardening rates (negative value of An) promoted increased strain localization and premature failure while transients with increased work-hardening rates enhanced formability. Total engineering elongations (50 mm gage length) varied between 20 pct and 46 pct, illustrating the importance of the transient far beyond the transient region. The controlling factor is the effective work-hardening rate in the transient region rather than the change in strength coefficient or flow stressper se. A direct stress offset of the flow curve { % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfKttLearuatLrhDLjhih9gDOL2yG0evae% XatLxBI9gBamXvP5wqSXMqHnxAJn0BKvguHDwzZbqegm0B1jxALjhi% ov2DaeHbuLwBLnhiov2DGi1BTfMBaebbnrfifHhDYfgasaacH8srps% 0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbbf9v8GmFr0xc9fs0xc9q8qqaqFn0dXdir-x% cvk9pIe9q8qqaq-dir-f0-yqaqVeLsFr0-vr0-vr0db8meaabaqaci% GacaGaaeqabaWaaqaafaaakeaadaqadaqaaiabfs5aejqbeo8aZzaa% raaacaGLOaGaayzkaaaaaa!455A! $$\left( {\Delta \bar \sigma } \right)$$ } also affects strain localization through a change in effective work-hardening rate.
The emergence of geometric order in proliferating metazoan epithelia

The predominantly hexagonal cell pattern of simple epithelia was noted in the earliest microscopic analyses of animal tissues, a topology commonly thought to reflect cell sorting into optimally packed honeycomb arrays. Here we use a discrete Markov model validated by time-lapse microscopy and clonal analysis to demonstrate that the distribution of polygonal cell types in epithelia is not a result of cell packing, but rather a direct mathematical consequence of cell proliferation. On the basis of in vivo analysis of mitotic cell junction dynamics in Drosophila imaginal discs, we mathematically predict the convergence of epithelial topology to a fixed equilibrium distribution of cellular polygons. This distribution is empirically confirmed in tissue samples from vertebrate, arthropod and cnidarian organisms, suggesting that a similar proliferation-dependent cell pattern underlies pattern formation and morphogenesis throughout the metazoa.
Factors Mediating the Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Risky Sexual Behavior Among College Women

Abstract We surveyed 157 college women regarding sexual abuse, age at first intercourse, reactions to first intercourse, sexual attitudes, and sexual risk behavior outcomes to clarify the relationship between early sexual experiences and risky sexual behavior. Women who had been sexually abused in childhood reported greater numbers of lifetime sexual partners. This relationship was partially explained by adolescent/adult sexual abuse, age at first intercourse, permissive sexual attitudes, and reaction to first intercourse. Childhood sexual abuse was indirectly associated with more frequent use of alcohol or drugs during sexual activity through its relationships with adolescent/adult sexual abuse, age at first intercourse, permissive sexual attitudes, and reaction to first intercourse. Implications for therapists are discussed.
Effect of Variations in Dietary Calcium on Renal and Intestinal Calcium-Binding Proteins

ABSTRACT. This study was designed to determine if protein-induced calciuria was related to alterations in the intestinal and renal calcium-binding proteins (CaBP). Weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing low, normal, or high Ca and protein diets for 2 wk. Twentyfour- h urine and fecal samples were collected before the termination of the study. Plasma, kidney, duodenum, ileum, and femur samples were obtained for selected mineral and CaBP analyses. Growth was significantly depressed on the low protein diets and this was independent of Ca levels. Hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and increased renal CaBP were associated with the high Ca intakes but not with the high protein diets. It is suggested that in conditions where Ca intakes are high, the renal CaBP has a role in Ca excretion and responds to changes in Ca concentrations occurring in the distal tubule. No loss of femur Ca was seen in rats on the high protein diets.
A multi-gene phylogeny provides additional insight into the relationships between several Ascosphaera species

Ascosphaera fungi are highly associated with social and solitary bees, with some species being pathogenic to bees (causing chalkbrood) while others are not, and proper identification within this genus is important. Unfortunately, morphological characterizations can be difficult, and molecular characterizations have only used one genetic region. We evaluated multiple phylogenies of the Ascosphaera using up to six loci: the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, Elongation Factor-1α (EF-1α) the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), and the second largest subunit (RPB2). The ITS sequence alone produced an inadequate phylogeny, and the addition of both the 18S and 28S rRNA loci to the ITS sequence produced a phylogeny similar to that based on all six genetic regions. For all phylogenies, Ascosphaera torchioi was in a separate clade that was the most basal, with a strong genetic similarity to Eremascus albus, introducing the possibility of paraphyly within Ascosphaera. Also, based on this new phylogeny, we now suggest that the Apis mellifera (honey bee) pathogens arose within a group of saprophytes, and the Megachile (leafcutting bees) pathogens arose separately.
Single-frame multichannel blind deconvolution by nonnegative matrix factorization with sparseness constraints

Single-frame multichannel blind deconvolution is formulated by applying a bank of Gabor filters to a blurred image. The key observation is that spatially oriented Gabor filters produce sparse images and that a multichannel version of the observed image can be represented as a product of an unknown nonnegative sparse mixing vector and an unknown nonnegative source image. Therefore a blind-deconvolution problem is formulated as a nonnegative matrix factorization problem with a sparseness constraint. No a priori knowledge about the blurring kernel or the original image is required. The good experimental results demonstrate the viability of the proposed concept.
Effects of coping-skills training in low-income urban African-American adolescents with asthma.

Background. Minority teens with asthma are at particular risk for this life-threatening disease due to increased morbidity and mortality rates in addition to the normal challenges of adolescence. Objective. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (n = 137) was to determine the effects of a coping-skills training program (intervention) compared with standard asthma education (attention control) in African-American teens with asthma. Methods. Adolescents were recruited from five African-American dominant high schools serving low-income areas of Chicago. Data were collected at baseline, 2 months (immediately following the intervention), 6 months, and 12 months. Results. Both groups improved over time, with significant increases in asthma-related quality of life, asthma knowledge, and asthma self-efficacy, accompanied by decreases in symptom days and asthma-related school absences. Conclusions. Findings suggest that coping-skills training as implemented in this study provided no additional benefit bey...
Street Life–Oriented African American Males and Violence as a Public Health Concern

This article discusses concerns pertaining to the impact of continued exposure to violence for African American street life–oriented adolescent males as a public health concern and the importance of social work and human services to address this issue. Youth interviewed in this study discuss issues of exposure to violence and the navigation of multiple systems involvement, including child welfare, juvenile justice, educational systems, and their neighborhood life. Implications for social workers include the development of community-centric interventions that provide opportunities for youth voice and access to relationship building with trusted professionals and mentors.
Genetic control of alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes in maize.

By means of horizontal gel electrophoresis and the zymogram technique, genetic variants and the formation of a hybrid molecule of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) have been found in Zea mays. Each inbred homozygous stock examined showed two types of ADH isozyme patterns: a fast faint zone and a slower deeply staining zone, both anode-migrating at pH 8.5. The variants found differed in that each of the ADH zones varied in its electrophoretic mobility when compared to its counterpart in the other strain. When appropriate genetic crosses were made, the resulting heterozygotes showed the parental ADH zones, and, in addition, a band of intermediate mobility was formed between the deep-staining ADH bands. However, in the fast-moving zone only the parental isozymes were represented in the heterozygote. The formation of the hybrid molecule and the apparent gene dosage effects support the hypothesis that ADH-2 in maize exists as a dimer, whereas ADH-1 may exist as a monomer.
Transient dynamics of a laser with an injected signal

Abstract In a recent experiment, extremely weak injected signals were detected by measurement of the initiation times of an injection seeded, Q -switched laser. This is an example of the application of decay of an unstable state; the measurement of the intensity of the injected signal is converted to the measurement of the time interval required for the detector laser intensity to build up to a reference value. Here, we present analytic solutions for the transient growth of the intensity for a laser with an injected signal. Excellent agreement with digital simulations is obtained.
An exploratory metasynthesis of midwifery practice in the United States.

Abstract Objectives : to conduct a metasynthesis of six qualitative studies of midwifery care and process; identify common themes and metaphors among the six studies for further exploration and theory development; and create a framework for further metasynthesis of qualitative studies of midwifery practice in the USA. Design : a qualitative metasynthesis to analyse, synthesise, and interpret six qualitative studies on the process and practice of midwifery care. Sample and Setting : hospital, birth centre, and home birth settings were represented across all of the studies. Participants included nurse- and direct-entry midwives who provided both childbearing and gynaecological care. Recipients of midwifery care also received both childbearing and gynaecological care. Findings : four overarching themes were identified: the midwife as an ‘instrument' of care; the woman as a ‘partner' in care; an ‘alliance' between the woman and midwife; and the ‘environment' of care. These were interpretively and conceptually arrayed into a helix model of midwifery care. Key conclusions : t he findings from this exploratory metasynthesis clearly indicate that the practice of midwifery is a dynamic partnership between the midwife and the woman, and reflects an environmental perspective. In a country that has a standard of highly technical childbirth care, perhaps the most outstanding concept of this model is that of the midwife as an ‘instrument' of care. The significance of the findings will be determined by their ability to guide further research efforts to support a standard of midwifery care for all women in the USA. Implications for practice : this model offers a benchmark and a structure for considering the dynamic elements of midwifery practice and key roles that the midwife plays in the health care of women and babies.
Cardiac pathology after aortic valve replacement using Hufnagel trileaflet prostheses: a study of 20 necropsy patients.

Abstract Necropsy observations are described in 20 patients dying between October 1967 and March 1973 after replacement of the aortic valve with a Hufnagel trileaflet prosthesis. Seven patients died within two months of operation and 13, between 2.1 and 58 months (average 22). Four of seven patients dying early had extensive prosthetic thrombus causing obstruction of one coronary arterial ostium in each. Of the 12 patients surviving six months or longer after valve replacement, death in eight resulted from degeneration (tearing) of the prosthetic cusps causing severe aortic regurgitation in each, and from thrombosis of the prostheses in three, probably causing prosthetic stenosis and definitely causing narrowing of at least one coronary ostium. Thus, prosthetic degeneration or thrombosis caused death in 11 of the 12 patients surviving six months or longer. In conclusion, this trileaflet aortic prosthesis, although similar in disign to the normal aortic valve, is composed of materials not durable enough to withstand the stresses created by blood flow in this position.
A survey of nonphysician medical screening examinations in academic emergency medicine.

: Objectives: To determine the proportions of U.S. emergency medicine (EM) residency programs that use nonphysicians to perform medical screening examinations (MSEs) in lieu of a physician evaluation. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study consisting of a mail survey of the 109 base hospitals of accredited U.S. EM residency programs. Follow-up letters were sent twice to nonrespondents. Questions regarding ED demographics, the performance and structure of MSEs by physicians and nonphysicians, and the exact nature and purpose of such examinations were included. Results: Ninety of 109 (83%) programs responded. Eighty-seven of the 90 programs (97%) perform MSEs on all patients presenting to the ED prior to discharge. Thirty-seven percent (33/90) perform nonphysician MSEs (NPMSEs) at least some of the time. Fifty percent (16/32) refer patients to an outside facility based on the result of the screening, and in 32% of cases the patient is not offered the choice of an ED evaluation. Seventy percent (19/27) at times refer patients, including uninsured patients, to a same-day clinic within their hospital system. Seven of 27 (26%) programs performing NPMSEs reported occasional adverse events, defined as two to 11 per year. Eight of 22 (36%) reported poorer clinical outcomes than expected from ED care as a result of the NPMSE, and 18 of 25 (72%) reported some degree of patient dissatisfaction. Two programs reported death as a result of NPMSEs. Conclusions: The use of NPMSEs is common and is frequently used as a basis for referring patients away from the ED without a physician examination. Using NPMSEs may be associated with adverse events, including patient dissatisfaction, morbidity, and possibly, mortality.
Quadratic tuning of proof-mass actuators

Abstract The interrelationship between inherent proof-mass actuator and structural dynamic properties is investigated with the goal of determining optimal actuator passive characteristics given the structure and desired control objectives. A linear quadratic regulator problem is posed in which the coupling of actuator and structural dynamics is accounted for. Algorithms for determining the optimal passive actuator properties from the optimal active control law are examined. Examples are presented which demonstrate the developed algorithms.
Envisor: Online Environment Map Construction for Mixed Reality

One of the main goals of anywhere augmentation is the development of automatic algorithms for scene acquisition in augmented reality systems. In this paper, we present Envisor, a system for online construction of environment maps in new locations. To accomplish this, Envisor uses vision-based frame to frame and landmark orientation tracking for long-term, drift-free registration. For additional robustness, a gyroscope/compass orientation unit can optionally be used for hybrid tracking. The tracked video is then projected into a cubemap frame by frame. Feedback is presented to the user to help avoid gaps in the cubemap, while any remaining gaps are filled by texture diffusion. The resulting environment map can be used for a variety of applications, including shading of virtual geometry and remote presence.
Sexual interviewing, evaluation, and therapy: psychoanalytic emphasis on the use of sexual fantasy.

Sexual fantasy in initial interviews and during psychotherapy and psychoanalysis is explored for its contribution to understanding psychopathology, both sexual and nonsexual. The focus is on distinguishing between the sexual and the seemingly sexual. “Sexual” behavior and fantasy are regarded as having sexual pleasure and orgasm as the predominant goal. Seemingly sexual behavior and fantasy have a predominant goal that is not sexual, even though a sexual mode is used. Predominant goals in the seemingly sexual are emphasized such as coping with intense aggression and problems of self-esteem, self-definition, self-cohesion, and the maintenance of object relations. Sexual fantasy and behavior can be especially useful for repairing negative self- and object images and the associated intensely negative affects. This does not imply that all more primitive patients are incapable of experiencing intense sexual pleasure and orgasm. On the contrary, borderline patients, with extensive use of splitting mechanisms at the level of dyadic object relating, may have intact sexual functioning.
Old-growth red spruce communities in the mid-Appalachians

Old-growth stands of red spruce (Picea rubens) were sampled at the only four localities in the mountains of southwestern Virginia and central West Virginia where examples of such are known to exist. Based upon mean ages (±SE) of cored trees, sampled stands ranged in age from 164±18 to 201±10 yr. Dendro-ecological (tree-ring) analysis showed a marked decline in growth of trees at three localities during the late 1800s, followed by recovery to previous levels of growth within two decades. This growth-trend decline generally coincides with a period of extensive mortality of red spruce reported to have occurred in central West Virginia. Basal area of trees ≥2.5 cm DBH ranged from 35.4 to 46.1 m2/ha. These figures are considerably lower than those recorded at earlier dates for similar old-growth stands in the Appalachians, which suggests that a general decline has occurred over the last half-century.
Negotiating as a Group Representative: Constraints and Opportunities

Research on negotiating representatives has been a popular topic since the 1960s. The early experimental studies revealed a variety of situational influences on the decisions made by representatives. Construed as constraints, these variables are shown to move negotiating processes in the direction of agreement or impasse. More recent research extends the portfolio of influences by examining the roles of trust, immoral behavior, group status, and divided constituencies. Of particular interest is the finding that hawkish constituents have more influence on representatives than dovish constituents. The effect is, however, weaker when the hawks have low group status. It is also weakened when representatives are primed to have a pro-social orientation. Another recent line of research focuses on collective representation and shows how several features of constituencies influence those decisions. The article concludes with a summary of key findings and a suggestion for bridging the behavioral and interpretative traditions of scholarship on representation.
Isotopic composition of oil-field brines from Kettleman North Dome, California, and their geologic implications

Abstract Deuterium and O18 analyses were made on 25 formation-water samples from Miocene (Temblor Formation) and Eocene (McAdams Formation) reservoir rocks at Kettleman North Dome oil field, California, and on three surface water samples from Reef Ridge located about three miles to the west of the field. The δO18 values obtained generally increase with depth and most probably are due to temperature controlled exchange reactions with carbonate cement and dissolved carbonate species. The δD values obtained seem to be controlled primarily by the membrane behavior of shales modifying the assumed original values. The contribution of isotopic exchange between water and clays cannot be evaluated at present. The isotopic data support the conclusions based on a detailed study of geology, hydrodynamics, and formation water geochemistry ( Kharaka , 1971) which indicate that: 1. The Temblor Formation waters are probably meteoric in origin concentrated chemically and isotopically by shale membranes, and 2. The McAdams Formation waters were most probably obtained by squeezing the original interstitial marine connate waters of deposition from the underlying Mesozoic sediments.
The pricing of franchise rights

Abstract Franchise contracts typically contain two forms of payment from franchisee to franchisor: the initial franchise fee and the ongoing royalty payment. Economic analysis and empirical examination yield two different predictions about how these payments should relate to one another. In this study using system level data, we find a positive relationship between the initial franchise fee and royalty rate when controlling for average outlet sales. This is consistent with the argument that the initial franchise fee is not a vehicle for extracting the surplus downstream rents left after royalty payments. Implications for franchise research and practice are discussed, as is the importance of regulatory changes that may make sales data available through franchise disclosure requirements.
Clinical Use of β-Andrenoceptor Blockade in Systemic Hypertension

beta-Blockers are effective in reducing the blood pressure of many patients with systemic hypertension. They differ in terms of the presence or absence of intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, membrane-stabilising activity, beta 1-selectivity, alpha-blocking properties, and relative potency and duration of action. All beta-blockers appear to have blood pressure lowering effects. The choice of which beta-blocker to use in an individual patient is determined by the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic differences between the drugs in conjunction with the patient's other medical condition(s). This review discusses the practical use of beta-blockers and provides rational suggestions for which drug(s) to use in selected patient groups (Black, elderly, postinfarction, diabetes, renal disease, obstructive lung disease, elevated lipid levels, coexisting angina, and left ventricular hypertrophy).
TESTICULAR SELF-EXAMINATION: VALIDATION OF A TRAINING STRATEGY FOR EARLY CANCER DETECTION

Testicular self-examination (TSE) can lead to early diagnosis and treatment of testicular cancer, the third leading cause of death in young men. We evaluated the effectiveness of a brief and specific checklist for teaching TSE skills. Ten men were videotaped while performing testicular self-examinations before and after training. The TSE training resulted in large and significant increases in the number of TSE steps completed and duration of the TSE. Two urological validation measures supported the improvements observed in the mens' self-examinations. Subjects reported continued performance of TSE during a follow-up telephone interview. This pilot study indicates that a brief and specific checklist is an effective strategy for teaching early cancer detection skills.
A WD-Repeat Protein Stabilizes ORC Binding to Chromatin

Origin recognition complex (ORC) plays critical roles in the initiation of DNA replication and cell-cycle progression. In metazoans, ORC associates with origin DNA during G1 and with heterochromatin in postreplicated cells. However, what regulates the binding of ORC to chromatin is not understood. We have identified a highly conserved, leucine-rich repeats and WD40 repeat domain-containing protein 1 (LRWD1) or ORC-associated (ORCA) in human cells that interacts with ORC and modulates chromatin association of ORC. ORCA colocalizes with ORC and shows similar cell-cycle dynamics. We demonstrate that ORCA efficiently recruits ORC to chromatin. Depletion of ORCA in human primary cells and embryonic stem cells results in loss of ORC association to chromatin, concomitant reduction of MCM binding, and a subsequent accumulation in G1 phase. Our results suggest ORCA-mediated association of ORC to chromatin is critical to initiate preRC assembly in G1 and chromatin organization in post-G1 cells.
Crafting quality in design: integrity, creativity, and public sensibility

This paper aims to enrich the design research community's notions of quality by turning to the techniques and values of master craftspeople. We describe and analyze interviews conducted with elite craft practitioners in the US and Taiwan to consider how they perceive and produce quality. The crafters articulate a consensus view of interaction with integrity. American participants tend to frame their understanding of quality in terms of self-expression through a creative interaction with materials, while participants from Taiwan emphasize the role of communities in establishing---and benefitting from---craft quality. As HCI continues to turn to design approaches on account of their strengths producing works of socio-cultural relevance and value, our study sheds light on the qualities of interacting with integrity, the pleasures of self-expression through creative interaction with materials, and the practical benefits of positioning creative work in relation to the material resources, aesthetic tastes, and socio-economic needs of a public.
Characterization of Plastic Deformation Induced by Microscale Laser Shock Peening

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is used to investigate crystal lattice rotation caused by plastic deformation during high-strain rate laser shock peening in single crystal aluminum and copper sample on (I 10) and (001) surfaces. New experimental methodologies are employed which enable measurement of the in-plane lattice rotation under approximate plane-strain conditions. Crystal lattice rotation on and below the microscale laser shock peened sample surface was measured and compared with the simulation result obtained from FEM analysis, which account for single crystal plasticity. The lattice rotation measurements directly complement measurements of residual strain/stress with X-ray micro-diffraction using synchrotron light source and it also gives an indication of the extent of the plastic deformation induced by the microscale laser shock peening.