cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Active hematite concretion formation in modern acid saline lake sediments, Lake Brown, Western Australia

Concretions can provide valuable records of diagenesis and fluid–sediment interactions, however, reconstruction of ancient concretion-forming conditions can be difficult. Observation of modern hematite concretion growth in a natural sedimentary setting provides a rare glimpse of conditions at the time of formation. Spheroidal hematite-cemented concretions are actively precipitating in shallow subsurface sediments at Lake Brown in Western Australia. Lake Brown is a hypersaline (total dissolved solids up to 23%) and acidic (pH ∼ 4) ephemeral lake. The concretion host sediments were deposited between ∼ 1 and 3 ka, based on dating of stratigraphically higher and lower beds. These age constraints indicate that the diagenetic concretions formed < 3 ka, and field observations suggest that some are currently forming. These modern concretions from Lake Brown provide an example of very early diagenetic formation in acid and saline conditions that may be analogous to past conditions on Mars. Previously, the hematite concretions in the Burns formation on Mars have been interpreted as late stage diagenetic products, requiring long geologic time scales and multiple fluid flow events to form. In contrast, the Lake Brown concretions support the possibility of similar syndepositional to very early diagenetic concretion precipitation on Mars.
Systemic lupus erythematosus in three ethnic groups: II. Features predictive of disease activity early in its course

Objective To determine the factors associated with disease activity in patients with recent-onset (≤5 years) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were of Hispanic, African-American, or Caucasian ethnicity. Methods Incident and prevalent cases of SLE, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE, among the 3 ethnic groups were identified in Alabama (The University of Alabama at Birmingham) and Texas (The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston). Variables from the sociodemographic, clinical, immunologic, immunogenetic, behavioral, and psychological domains were obtained using validated instruments. Disease activity was ascertained with the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM). Stepwise domain regressions with SLAM score as the dependent variable were performed. Final ethnic-specific and overall regression models were obtained by entering variables that were retained in the domain regressions. Results SLAM scores at study entry were higher in the African Americans (mean ± SD 12.6 ± 6.9) and Hispanics (11.0 ± 6.2) than in the Caucasians (8.5 ± 3.7) (P ≤ 0.001). The final overall regression model (R2 = 28%) for higher SLAM score included the following variables: African-American ethnicity, lack of private health insurance, abrupt disease onset, presence of anti-Ro antibodies, absence of HLA-DRB1*0301, higher levels of helplessness, and abnormal illness-related behaviors. Conclusion Socioeconomic, immunologic, immunogenetic, behavioral, and psychological variables were all predictive of disease activity early in the course of SLE, irrespective of ethnic group. However, there remain ethnic group differences in disease activity that were not explained by these factors.
Length constraints, reduction rules, and holophrastic processes in children's word combinations

Examination indicates that there is no real evidence that the apparently elliptical character of many early word combinations is due to deletion of content, or that there is a performance constraint that prevents children producing the longer utterances that their grammars could generate. Evidence is presented that questions the presumption, implicit in the length-constraint claim, that a constituent is less likely to be expanded (without deletion) when there are co-occurring constituents. The special character of both early word combinations and holophrases is explained by a lexical-insertion process in which a word representing a salient feature of the communication is inserted into an inappropriately high node, because the child lacks complete control of rules to realize the communication more fully.
Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy: The Influence of Accessory Pudendal Arteries on the Recovery of Sexual Function

AbstractArterial insufficiency is a major factor responsible for impotence in men following nerve sparing radical prostatectomy. Previously, accessory internal pudendal arteries have been identified traveling over the anterolateral surface of the prostate. Based on this observation, during the last 7 years we have consistently looked for the presence of these arteries and have developed a surgical technique for their preservation. Between 1987 and 1994, 835 potent men underwent radical prostatectomy and accessory pudendal arteries were identified in 33 (4 percent). Following the development of the surgical technique, it was possible to preserve arteries in 19 of 24 patients (79 percent). Followup evaluation of 1 year or longer was available for 22 men who did not undergo wide excision of a neurovascular bundle. Recovery of erection sufficient for unassisted intromission and orgasm occurred in 8 of 12 patients (67 percent) in whom the arteries were preserved and in 5 of 10 (50 percent) in whom the arteries...
Master limited partnerships: An examination of changes in dividend distribution policy*

. This paper examines the impact of dividend distribution decrease announcements on the security prices of master limited partnerships. (MLPs). These firms, whose earnings are not subject to U.S. Federal Income Tax, are marketed stressing high dividend yields. Since most MLPs are natural resource firms with only one line of business, cuts in dividend policy by one firm caused by industry-wide factors might impact the market's pricing of similar firms. Therefore, tests of announcement effects are performed not only on the firm itself but also on a portfolio of related firms. Although the announcements were found to be associated with significant unit price reactions for the MLP making the announcement, the price reaction for similar firms was small, indicating only weak support for intraindustry information transfers. Resume. L'auteur examine l'incidence des avis de reduction des declarations de dividendes sur le prix des titres des Master Limited Partnerships (MLP). Pour mettre en marche les titres de ces entreprises, dont les benefices ne sont pas assujeuis a l'impot federal americain sur le revenu, on fait valoir leur taux de rendement eleve. Comme la plupart des MLP œuvrent dans un secteur d'activite unique, celui des ressources naturelles, les reductions de dividendes operees par une entreprise en raison de facteurs qui touchent l'ensemble du secteur risquent d'avoir une incidence sur le cours des titres d'entreprises similaires. C'est pourquoi l'auteur verifie l'incidence de ces reductions non seulement sur les titres de l'entreprise qui les annonce, mais aussi sur un portefeuille de titres d'entreprises apparentees. Bien que l'annonce d'une reduction provoque d'importants changements dans le cours unitaire des titres de la MLP qui en est l'auteur, les changements enregistres dans le cours des titres des entreprises similaires sont minces, ce qui indique un faible dispositif de transfert d'information a l'interieur du secteur.
Relational psychophysiology: Lessons from mother–infant physiology research on dyadically expanded states of consciousness

The authors illustrate how their work on mother-infant "relational psychophysiology" might inform psychotherapy research. They examined psychophysiology in 18 mother-infant dyads (infants' age: 5 months) during normal interaction and a still-face perturbation. They measured respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as an index of emotion regulation and explored whether skin conductance (SC) concordance, previously linked to therapist empathy, occurs in mothers and infants. During the still-face episode, SC concordance correlated to infant negative engagement. Upon reengagement, when mothers often soothe their infants, concordance instead correlated to behavioral synchrony, an index of maternal sensitivity. Furthermore, maternal RSA became correlated to infant negative engagement. These findings suggest that a mother trying to calm her infant calms herself physiologically and her sensitivity on a behavioral level becomes coherent physiologically. Implications for psychotherapy research are discussed.
Tuberous sclerosis with gingival lesions.

Abstract There is a paucity of information in the literature in regard to the oral manifestations of tuberous sclerosis. This case report describes such a syndrome in which histologic examination of a fibroma-like lesion of the gingiva was performed. Therapy included removal of impacted and extruded molars as well as periodontal surgery.
Applying phage antibodies to proteomics: selecting single chain Fv antibodies to antigens blotted on nitrocellulose.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is a powerful tool for identification of proteins that differ between patients with qualitatively or quantitatively different disease states. Further characterization of these protein differences would be greatly facilitated by the availability of antibodies that could be used to detect and quantitate the temporo-spatial pattern and cellular and tissue location of the different proteins. To generate such antibodies, methods were developed which permit the successful selection of monoclonal phage antibodies from phage display libraries against antigens blotted from SDS-PAGE gels onto nitrocellulose. First, it was determined that nitrocellulose and PVDF membranes gave significantly lower levels of background phage binding than two other membranes studied. Next, it was determined that blocking with fish gelatin and binding in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl could reduce nonspecific binding 10,000-fold and result in enrichment ratios greater than 500-fold with antigen concentrations as low as 1 ng/mm(2). When optimized conditions were applied to phage antibody libraries, panels of monoclonal phage antibodies were generated against the proteins ErbB2 and bovine serum albumin electroblotted from SDS-PAGE gels onto nitrocellulose. Antibodies were obtained with as little as 10 to 1 ng of antigen, depending on whether the libraries displayed single or multiple copies of antibody per phage. The antibodies worked as reagents in both ELISA and Western blotting.
Shale oil characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography and optical activity detection

Abstract Chromatograms are obtained for various saturated fractions of shale oil, having different particle sizes and from different sources. Separation is accomplished by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and the eluate is monitored by an optical activity detector. The chromatograms show an abundance of optically active components, which may be good fingerprints for the various shale oils.
Improving unit-specific event based continuous-time approaches for batch processes: Integrality gap and task splitting

In this work, we address a challenging issue in the area of batch processing scheduling, namely the ability to reduce or even close the integrality gap for large-scale scheduling problems. Because of the multipurpose and multiproduct characteristics of batch plants, their resulting scheduling problems can be highly combinatorial in nature with many variables and constraints. In order to help reduce this complexity, a number of preprocessing steps are performed and new sets of rigorous constraints are incorporated within a novel and effective continuous-time formulation for the short-term scheduling of batch plants. Several example problems are solved to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithmic techniques. In addition, a new rigorous mathematical model is proposed to help reduce the complexity experienced in unit-specific event based, continuous-time formulations. A challenging benchmark problem involving several complicating features is solved for several demand instances in order to further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Trajectories of Concurrent Substance Use Disorders: A Developmental, Typological Approach to Comorbidity

Background: Although alcohol and tobacco use disorders are highly comorbid, little is known regarding the combined course of these disorders. Methods: The current study utilized latent class analysis to examine longitudinal patterns of alcoholtobacco use disorder comorbidity. Participants were 449 young adults (baseline age, 18.5 years; 48% male; 51% with paternal history of alcoholism) assessed five times over 7 years. Results: Five longitudinal types of alcohol or tobacco use disorder over time were identified: nondiagnosing; developmentally limited alcohol use disorder; chronic alcohol use disorder; chronic tobacco use disorder; and comorbid alcohol and tobacco use disorder. These typologies were distinguishable on the basis of family history of alcoholism status and sex. Etiologically important third variables (alcohol expectancies, behavioral undercontrol, childhood stressors) mediated the relation between family history and the latent classes. Conclusions: Characterizations of alcohol use disorders typically fail to consider important sources of heterogeneity such as course or comorbidity. By simultaneously modeling developmental course and comorbidity with tobacco dependence, we were able to identify distinct trajectories of single and concurrent substance use disorders. Such multi-substance trajectories represent meaningful subtypes that, although sharing substantial common influences, have unique etiologic correlates. Additionally, these subtypes might represent distinct groups from the perspective of intervention strategies.
Reaction of metal carbonyl hydrides with decacarbonyldimanganese (Mn2(CO)10): radical reactions initiated by room light

Abstract We have investigated the room light initiated reactions of HFeCp(CO)PPh 3 or HMoCp(CO) 2 PPh 3 with Mn 2 (CO) 10 . In the reaction with the iron hydride we have observed six products and in the reaction with molybdenum hydride we have observed eight products. The nature of the products strongly suggests reactions of seventeen-electron complexes. The number of products show that recombinations of the seventeen-electron species occur with very low activation barriers, showing very little selectivity.
Safety and Efficacy of Laser Lithotripsy for Complicated Biliary Stones Using Direct Choledochoscopy

Background The first-line therapy for choledocholithiasis is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with stone extraction, which is successful in over 90 % of cases. However, large biliary stones often require extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL), or laser lithotripsy. The objective of our study was to assess the safety and efficacy of laser lithotripsy with choledochoscopy guidance.
Improving the performance of porous radiant burners through use of sub-micron size fibers

Abstract An analysis has been carried out to determine the performance of porous radiant burners (PRB) as a function of fiber size. PRB made with silica or alumina fibers are considered. The radiative properties of the fibers are determined using the electromagnetic wave scattering theory for two different characteristics temperatures— 1000 and 1500°C. The properties are used in a combined-mode heat transfer model to calculate the amount of energy radiated by the PRB. It is found that fibers smaller than the order of 1 μm in diameter produce significantly higher radiant output. For a characteristic temperature of 1000°C, in some cases, the increase in output is as high as 63 and 109% for silica and alumina fibers, respectively. For a characteristic temperature of 1500°C, the corresponding increases are 72 and 150%, respectively.
Scanning electrochemical microscopy of hydrogen electro-oxidation. Rate constant measurements and carbon monoxide poisoning on platinum

Abstract We describe an application of the scanning electrochemical microscope that uses tip–sample feedback to characterize the electro-oxidation of hydrogen on a polycrystalline platinum electrode in sulfuric acid solutions in the presence and absence of adsorbed carbon monoxide. The hydrogen oxidation reaction is probed by reducing protons at a diffusion-limited rate at the microscope's tip electrode while it is positioned near a platinum substrate. A series of approach curves measured as a function of the substrate potential provides hydrogen oxidation rate constant values over a wide range of substrate conditions. In the absence of CO, the rate of hydrogen oxidation exceeds 1 cm s −1 at potentials within the hydrogen adsorption and double layer charging regions. A Tafel slope of ∼30 mV per decade is determined near the reversible potential. At increasingly positive substrate potentials, the hydrogen oxidation rate decreases exponentially with increasing potential as the surface is covered with an oxide layer. The adsorption of solution-phase carbon monoxide completely deactivates the platinum substrate towards steady-state hydrogen oxidation over a large range of substrate potentials. Approach curves indicate a near-zero rate constant for hydrogen oxidation on CO-covered platinum at potentials below oxide formation. An increase in the hydrogen oxidation rate is seen at potentials sufficiently positive that CO fails to adsorb and the platinum oxide forms. In comparison, dynamic tip–substrate voltammetry depicts a complex substrate response whereby the adsorbed carbon monoxide layer transforms from a weakly adsorbed state at low potentials to a strongly adsorbed state at high potentials. Although steady-state approach curve measurements depict the complete deactivation of catalytic activity at these potentials, a significant hydrogen oxidation current is observed during the potential-induced transformation between these weakly and strongly adsorbed CO states. The rate of hydrogen oxidation approaches that of a pristine platinum surface during this surface transformation before returning to the poisoned state.
Spectral and transient response of a circular disk to plane electromagnetic waves

Extensive theoretical far-field amplitude and phase data are presented for the monostatic scattering of an electromagnetic plane wave normally incident upon a thin circular metallic disk. These data are used to synthesize the impulse response of the disk. Comparisons are made with various approximate techniques in both the frequency and time domains.
LASER-GAS SPECTROPHONE MEASUREMENTS WITH A FIBER-OPTIC INTERFEROMETER

A fiber-optic interferometer is the acoustic sensor in a gas spectrophone. A minimum detectable absorption capability of 1.6 x 10-7 cm-1·W/√HZ has been demonstrated.
Photo-DKDP light valve in optical data processing

Various real-time optical data processing experimentst using the photo-DKDP spatial light modulator are described. These include the performance of image subtraction and contrast reversal directly on the light valve and their application to practical pattern recognition situations in which the input and reference objects differ. Examples of real-time optical correlation on coded waveforms for signal processing are presented, and the accuracy of the optically produced ambiguity function outputs are compared to the theoretically expected ones. Real-time optical image pattern recognition experiments are also presented, together with comparative data obtained with off-line correlations performed using film.
Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization of molecular hydrogen via the E,F1Σg+ state: Photoelectron energy and angular distributions

Abstract Photoelectron energy and angular distributions are measured for the 2+1 multiphoton ionization process H 2 X 1 Σ g + (ν = 0, J ) + 2hv → E,F 1 Σ g + (ν E , J E = J ) + h ν → H 2 + X 2 Σ g + (ν + ) + e − , for ν E = 0, 1, or 2 and for J E = 0 or 1 of the inner well of the double-minimum E,F state. Although a strong preference is found for ν + = ν E , the detailed H 2 + vibrational distribution does not exhibit Franck-Condon behavior, and the photoelectron angular distributions vary markedly with both the J E value of the intermediate state and the ν + value of the ion.
Decision Making When the Acceptable Options Become Unavailable

Abstract Research examined what decision makers do when, after screening out unacceptable options in preparation for making a choice from among the acceptable survivors, they find that all of the survivors have become unavailable and that no new options are forthcoming. Subjects were presented options in the form of rooms to rent and were required to screen them to prepare a "short list" from which a choice could be made. They also rated the importance of the room′s characteristics. Then they were told that the rooms on the short list all had been rented, and that no new rooms had become available so they would have to create a new short list from among the previously rejected rooms. Then they rescreened the rejected options and rerated the importance of the characteristics of the rooms. It was found that nearly 90% of the subjects would prefer to begin again with new options rather than rescreen rejected options. It also was found that when forced to rescreen rejected options, subjects reduced their ratings of the importance of the options′ characteristics, apparently in an effort to compensate, at least in part, for having to select options that, only moments before, had been regarded as unacceptable. Efforts to discourage ratings reductions proved futile. Implications of the results for screening and choice are discussed.
Desensitization to chemotherapeutic agents.

Question: I would like your help with a patient referred because of severe anaphylactic reaction to her chemotherapy. The patient had received ado-trastuzumabemtansine, which is a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted antibody-drug conjugate. It contains the humanized anti-HER2 IgG1, trastuzumab, covalently linked to the microtubule inhibitory drug DM1 (a maytansine derivative). The patient is a 64-year-old woman who had HER2þ metastatic breast cancer that was unresponsive to all medications, including trastuzumab alone. She was started on ado-trastuzumabemtansine, but the infusion had to be stopped due to a severe anaphylactic reaction. Approximately three-fourths of the way through her infusion, she developed severe breathing difficulty and became hypoxic. She also became hypotensive and almost lost consciousness.However, her tumors were responsive to even this first dose of the medication, and the patient begged to continue, despite her reaction. I am unsure of how to proceed with her desensitization, due to the severity of her reaction and the newness of thismedication.
Contemporary clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of angiographically confirmed coronary stent thrombosis: results from a multicenter California registry.

Objectives: To describe the contemporary treatment and outcomes for patients with angiographically confirmed (definite) stent thrombosis (ST). Background: Limited data are available on contemporary treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with ST in the United States. Methods: In this multicenter California registry, consecutive cases of definite ST over 5 years were identified. Clinical characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and long-term survival are reported. Results: One hundred and sixty five consecutive episodes of ST were identified in 153 patients from January 2005 to February 2010. The distribution of acute (≤24 hr), subacute (24 hr to 30 days), late (30 days to 1 year), and very late (≥1 year) ST was 3.9%, 21.8%, 17.6%, and 50.3%, respectively. Only 41.2% of patients were on dual antiplatelet therapy at the time of presentation, while 22.4% of patients were on none. Of the 61.4% of patients treated with restenting, 71.1% of them received a drug-eluting stent. Procedural success was 88.1%, and in-hospital death, stroke, and CABG occurred in 5.5%, 0.6%, and 6.1% of subjects, respectively. All-cause mortality at 1 year was 14.3%. Although female gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), bifurcation disease, ejection fraction <40%, and cardiogenic shock at the time of presentation were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, only DM (P = 0.047) and bifurcation disease (P = 0.027) remained independent predictors of in-hospital death. Conclusion: In-hospital mortality from definite ST is lower than previously reported, but long-term mortality remains high. DM and bifurcation disease, but not type of percutaneous therapy, are independently associated with in-hospital mortality. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rotation and tillage affect soybean grain composition, yield, and nutrient removal

Abstract Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) grain composition determines its uses, nutritional quality, value, and the amount of nutrients removed from agricultural ecosystems. Yet few studies have evaluated the effects of annual farming practices on composition. This study was conducted to determine whether soybean grain composition is altered by farming practices and how these practices impact yield and nutrient removal. The effects of long-term cropping systems (continuous soybean or soybean in rotation with corn (Zea mays L.), both tilled and no-till) on yield and concentrations of grain protein, oil, and nine mineral components, after 20 and 22 years of continuous management, were determined. Grain yield, protein, K, Zn, B, and Cu concentrations differed among cropping systems in both years while Mn concentration differed in one of two years. Oil, P, Ca, Mg, and Fe concentrations did not differ among cropping systems in either year, but across both years mean Fe concentration was affected. Differences in K, Fe, and Zn concentrations were mostly attributed to tillage each year, while those in protein and Cu concentrations were mostly attributed to rotation each year. Distinct B concentrations were attributed to tillage while distinct Mn concentrations were attributed to rotation. Grain yield differences were attributable to both rotation and tillage each year. In most instances, oil and protein yield, and mineral removal were dominated by grain yield differences and not concentration. Nonetheless, long-term tillage and rotation greatly affected soybean grain composition. Thus, rotation and tillage should be accounted for when assessing seed quality and seed composition.
Thermally generated paramagnetism in amorphous arsenic

Abstract A density of paramagnetic states which increases with temperature has been observed and characterized in amorphous As using ESR and optical absorption techniques. Unlike the chalcogenide amorphous semiconductors, these localized paramagnetic gap states are characterized by small effective electronic correlation energies (U) and are interpreted as resulting from thermal excitation of strained bonds at As vacancies.
HIV-Infected Langerhans Cells Constitute a Significant Proportion of the Epidermal Langerhans Cell Population Throughout the Course of HIV Disease

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known to infect Langerhans cells, but controversy still exists about the occurrence of HIV-infected Langerhans cells in the skin of HIV-infected individuals and about the density of epidermal Langerhans cells during the course of HIV disease. In this study, epidermal Langerhans cell population densities were analyzed quantitatively in serial biopsies from two burn patients acquired over an 11-y period following infection with HIV from transfusions received during their acute treatment. At each biopsy time point, the density of epidermal Langerhans cells and the proportion that were infected with HIV were analyzed by immunostaining. In both patients, skin grafts were slow to repopulate with Langerhans cells and did not attain normal Langerhans cell densities until about 2 y after grafting. Thereafter, Langerhans cell densities remained within normal limits with the exception of six biopsies at random times that showed a supernormal number of epidermal Langerhans cells. HIV-infected Langerhans cells were first detected at about 2 y post-infection and comprised about one-third of the Langerhans cell population. At subsequent times, HIV p24-stained Langerhans cells were identified in most biopsies and typically constituted about one third to one half of the total Langerhans cell population. The findings show that HIV-bearing Langerhans cells constitute a significant proportion of the epidermal Langerhans cell population over long periods of asymptomatic disease but are unevenly distributed throughout the skin. Normal population densities of epidermal Langerhans cells are maintained for years, although transient increases may occur randomly.
Bilateral renal hemangiopericytoma.

Abstract The first reported case of bilateral renal hemangiopericytoma ispresented. The 19 previous renal hemangiopericytomas that have been reported in the world literature are reviewed. This lesion has afflicted patients ranging in age from sixteen to sixty-eight years (mean 41 years) with an equal sex distribution. Mortality from hemangiopericytoma of the kidney has been 50 percent, and the primary mode of therapy remains surgical.
The Evaluation of the Variance of the Wave-Aberration Difference Function

Hopkins’ treatment of tolerance theory shows that, in designing quality optical systems, we should aim at minimizing the variance K of the wave-aberration difference function. Since the value of K is essentially positive, a useful criterion for the whole field is the sum of the suitably weighted values of K for a typical set of image points, corresponding to a range of selected values of spatial frequencies s and azimuths ψ. In this paper we show that the variance K (for both the axial and the extraaxial images) may be calculated by means of a set of universal coefficients P(i,j;s),Q(i,j;s,ψ) and R(i,j;s,ψ) once the wave-aberrations of certain rays are known. The values of these coefficients are uniquely determined by the function of the wave-aberration polynomial assumed and by the pattern of rays traced. Examples of the coefficients are presented.
Adolescent sexuality and disability

Regardless of what our beliefs about sex and disability may be, as health care providers we can promote the health and well being of our patients with disabilities in several ways. First and perhaps foremost, physical and programmatic barriers to accessing general health care including routine gynecologic care must be dramatically reduced. The promise of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act must be aggressively extended to our health care system to ensure equal access to routine health care for all. Second, knowledge of community resources that can support the healthy development and exercise of responsible and satisfying sexuality is critical. For example, health care providers should know about adaptive and assistive technologies as well as the use of personal care assistants to support the healthy although sometimes nontypical expression of one's sexuality. Centers for Independent Living are community resources that are often underutilized by the medical profession. These centers--run by and for people with disabilities--are likely resources and allies for providing education, role models, and peer mentoring around relationships, intimacy, sexuality, sexual expression, and parenting with a disability. Finally, sex education is a must and should include the following: Basic facts of life, reproduction, and sexual intercourse; Human growth and development Human reproduction and anatomy Self-pleasuring/masturbation and the use of sexual aids Intimacy and privacy Pregnancy and child birth Contraception and abortion Family life and parenthood Sexual response and consensual sex Sexual orientation Sexual abuse HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. The question should not be whether sex education is provided to persons with disabilities, but rather how it is most effectively provided. Health sex education must include the development of effective communication skills, decision-making skills, assertiveness, and the ability to say "no." It must also include ways to create satisfying relationships. For more information about sex education as it relates to people with disabilities, the following abbreviated resource list may be helpful: http://www.sexualhealth.com http://www.lookingglass.com Ludwig S, Hingsburger, D. Being sexual: an illustrated series on sexuality and relationships. SIECCAN, 850 Coxwell, Aven., East York, Ontario, M4C 5R1 Tel: 416-466-5304; Fax: 416-778-0785. Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), 130 West 42nd Street, Suite 350, New York, NY 10036. Tel: 212-819-9770. National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY), P.O. Box 1492, Washington, DC 20013; Tel/TTY: 800-695-0285; Fax: 202-884-8641; Internet: www.nichcy.org Non-Latex Supplies (Ask your pharmacist if not available) Trojan-Supra: http://www.trojancondoms.com Durex-Avanti: http://www.durex.com Female Health Company-FC Female Condom http://www.femalehealth.com Pasante--EzOn http://www.postalcondoms.co.uk (available in Canada and U.K.).
Breast reconstruction in women under 30: a 10-year experience.

: The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age (≤30 years) continues to rise. As young women present for breast cancer management with greater frequency, an accurate characterization of the differences in cancer treatments and reconstruction techniques is imperative to optimize care. Here, we sought to identify the reconstruction trends in this population of women ≤30 years at time of breast cancer diagnosis. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of women aged ≤30 years who underwent breast reconstruction at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. We extracted data on the patients’ diagnosis, adjuvant therapy, reconstructive choice, reason for reconstructive choice, and decision for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). Over a 10-year period, 54 patients aged ≤30 years underwent 77 breast reconstructions, including 30 microsurgical autologous tissue reconstructions and 34 tissue expander-based reconstructions. Donor site limitations, including insufficient abdominal tissue, restricted the number of patients eligible for abdominal based reconstruction despite the patients’ interest in the latter. The rate of CPM was 43%, which was significantly higher than the national average of 8%, further complicating the possibility of total autologous reconstruction. Because of the high rate of bilateral mastectomy and innate donor tissue limitations, young, healthy women who are otherwise ideal candidates for free tissue transfer using the abdominal donor site undergo significantly more tissue expander reconstructions than expected. Implant-based reconstruction or donor sites other than the abdomen must be considered in this unique population.
Vinyl bags prevent hypothermia at birth in preterm infants.

Objective To compare the effect of standard care vs. the use of vinyl bags (Vi-Drape® isolation bag) on admission temperature in extremely premature infants ≤28 weeks gestational age at birth.
An Epigenetic Signature for Monoallelic Olfactory Receptor Expression

Constitutive heterochromatin is traditionally viewed as the static form of heterochromatin that silences pericentromeric and telomeric repeats in a cell cycle- and differentiation-independent manner. Here, we show that, in the mouse olfactory epithelium, olfactory receptor (OR) genes are marked in a highly dynamic fashion with the molecular hallmarks of constitutive heterochromatin, H3K9me3 and H4K20me3. The cell type and developmentally dependent deposition of these marks along the OR clusters are, most likely, reversed during the process of OR choice to allow for monogenic and monoallelic OR expression. In contrast to the current view of OR choice, our data suggest that OR silencing takes place before OR expression, indicating that it is not the product of an OR-elicited feedback signal. Our findings suggest that chromatin-mediated silencing lays a molecular foundation upon which singular and stochastic selection for gene expression can be applied.
The Influence of Graphics Effects on Perceiving Depth in Minimized Virtual Environments

Enhancing depth perception accuracy in virtual environments is important and an active ongoing area of study. This research examines the impact of a variety of depth cues on depth perception accuracy in minimized virtual environments. For this study, we developed an application that applies various graphics techniques selectively onto 3D terrain maps. An experimental study was conducted using a one-wall 3D projection system to measure the impact of depth cues and graphical effects on depth perception accuracy. The experimental results showed a tendency of depth overestimation in minimized virtual environments. It also suggests research directions for investigating the influence of depth cues objectively on virtual spaces.
Obesity and reproduction

Obesity produces a variety of alterations in the reproductive system and, similarly, manipulations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis produce changes in food intake, body weight and fat distribution. In men, the primary effects of obesity are a weight related reduction in testosterone and, with massive overweight, a reduction in free testosterone. In females, the weight-related development of menarche leads to earlier menarche in obese girls than in normal weight girls. One explanation for the relationship of fatness to menarche may be the ob protein (leptin) which is defective in the obese (ob/ob) mouse. Leptin is secreted by adipose tissue in proportion to the quantity of fat and may serve as a signal to the hypothalamus that fat stores are adequate to nourish a conceptus to term. In women, parity affects obesity and obesity in turn affects the regularity of the menstrual cycle. In many experimental animals with obesity, particularly the genetic forms of obesity, there is complete infertility in the females and marked impairment of reproductive function in the males. In animals with hypothalamic lesions, there is a gender effect on the magnitude of weight gain associated with the sexually dimorphic regions in the medial preoptic area. Castration with removal of oestrogen is followed by obesity in female animals and this can be prevented, as can most forms of obesity, by adrenalectomy. The inhibitory effects of oestrogen on food intake may result from suppression of neuropeptide-Y or galanin peptidergic systems in the arcuate nucleus or medial preoptic area.
Applying active learning to assertion classification of concepts in clinical text

Supervised machine learning methods for clinical natural language processing (NLP) research require a large number of annotated samples, which are very expensive to build because of the involvement of physicians. Active learning, an approach that actively samples from a large pool, provides an alternative solution. Its major goal in classification is to reduce the annotation effort while maintaining the quality of the predictive model. However, few studies have investigated its uses in clinical NLP. This paper reports an application of active learning to a clinical text classification task: to determine the assertion status of clinical concepts. The annotated corpus for the assertion classification task in the 2010 i2b2/VA Clinical NLP Challenge was used in this study. We implemented several existing and newly developed active learning algorithms and assessed their uses. The outcome is reported in the global ALC score, based on the Area under the average Learning Curve of the AUC (Area Under the Curve) score. Results showed that when the same number of annotated samples was used, active learning strategies could generate better classification models (best ALC - 0.7715) than the passive learning method (random sampling) (ALC - 0.7411). Moreover, to achieve the same classification performance, active learning strategies required fewer samples than the random sampling method. For example, to achieve an AUC of 0.79, the random sampling method used 32 samples, while our best active learning algorithm required only 12 samples, a reduction of 62.5% in manual annotation effort.
Analysis of a wireless MAC protocol with client-server traffic and capture

We analyze an efficient medium access control (MAC) protocol for use in a single cell of a wireless local area network (LAN). A fixed frame structure with two periods is used; one period for making reservations using a slotted Aloha protocol and a second period for data transmission. The MAC protocol operates in a centralized manner in which a single station, the base station, accepts reservations (transmission or data requests) that are made by the remote stations, and then schedules the times in which they will transmit or receive data. We consider two different types of client-server traffic models, an open-loop and a closed-loop model. In the open-loop model, a remote station can generate reservation requests for the base station whether or not it has received a response from the base station. In the closed-loop case, the remote station waits for a response before generating a new request. The performance of the MAC protocol was analyzed exactly for both the open and closed-loop traffic models and for cases in which transmission errors and a mean-value type of radio capture model are included. In addition, different policies were considered for the transmission strategy that is used by the remote stations when they attempt to make reservations. We derive exact results for the mean throughput and waiting times as well as for the queue length distributions. We also derive an approximate Markov chain to treat a case in which a fixed-position capture model is used. Several types of behavior are illustrated through the use of numerical examples. >
Measurement of Biomarkers in Surveys in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Problems

There is little doubt that technological advances have opened the door for better assessment of health status and the burden of disease in human populations. National surveys-regularly carried out in many countries-are an important vehicle for the application of these technological advances especially in countries with limited and defective data on health and disease. Large-scale population-based surveys are of particular importance in the assessment of inequalities in health and health status. Measurement of biomarkers per se in surveys could result in significantly better insight into public health problems and more rational and equitable policies leading to improved health. The combination of traditionally collected behavioral data with biological and clinical data affords many possibilities to better assess health problems and to develop the most cost-effective set of interventions. Careful assessment and discussion of the potential public health benefits ethical issues and logistical challenges should guide the application of technological advances in population-based surveys. (excerpt)
Novel Hematopoietic Target Genes in the NRF2-Mediated Transcriptional Pathway

Nuclear factor- (erythroid-derived 2) like 2 (NFE2L2, NRF2) is a key transcriptional activator of the antioxidant response pathway and is closely related to erythroid transcription factor NFE2. Under oxidative stress, NRF2 heterodimerizes with small Maf proteins and binds cis-acting enhancer sequences found near oxidative stress response genes. Using the dietary isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SFN) to activate NRF2, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) identified several hundred novel NRF2-mediated targets beyond its role in oxidative stress. Activated NRF2 bound the antioxidant response element (ARE) in promoters of several known and novel target genes involved in iron homeostasis and heme metabolism, including known targets FTL and FTH1, as well as novel binding in the globin locus control region. Five novel NRF2 target genes were chosen for followup: AMBP, ABCB6, FECH, HRG-1 (SLC48A1), and TBXAS1. SFN-induced gene expression in erythroid K562 and lymphoid cells were compared for each target gene. NRF2 silencing showed reduced expression in lymphoid, lung, and hepatic cells. Furthermore, stable knockdown of NRF2 negative regulator KEAP1 in K562 cells resulted in increased NQO1, AMBP, and TBXAS1 expression. NFE2 binding sites in K562 cells revealed similar binding profiles as lymphoid NRF2 sites in all potential NRF2 candidates supporting a role for NRF2 in heme metabolism and erythropoiesis.
Alcohol Consumption as a Public Health Problem in Papua New Guinea

A 2-year alcohol study was undertaken for the Papua New Guinea Institute of Applied Social and Economic Research (IASER). This paper reports project findings bearing on general public health relate...
EMC simulation of complex PCB inside a metallic enclosure and shielding effectiveness analysis

In the present paper the Finite Integration Technique (FIT) in combination with the Partial Element Equivalent Circuit (PEEC) is employed to investigate the shielding performance of a metallic enclosure used for digital switching equipment. The current distribution on the power plane of a complex printed circuit board is used to excite the system. The effect of apertures’ shape and configuration on the value of the radiated Electric field is studied. It is shown that dividing a specified area into a combination of multiple apertures may reduce the value of the radiated emissions and therefore improve the shielding effectiveness. The usage of honeycomb panels is finally investigated.
Selection of instrumentation and fusion levels for scoliosis: where to start and where to stop. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2004.

Object. Although there are several papers in the literature regarding selection of fusion levels in the adolescent patient, fewer articles pertain to this in the adult patient. The author reviewed his experience and the literature and reports on the choice of fusion levels in the adolescent and adult patient. Methods. After a review of available data, the author determined that the proximal and distal extent of the fusion should be based on defining curves as either major or minor in the adolescent patient. It is often possible to exclude minor curves from the fusion. Relative Cobb measurement, apical deviation from the plumb line, and apical rotation are the most useful means of distinguishing a major from a minor curve. Otherwise, the proximal and distal extent of a fusion should be performed in such a way that the proximal and distal vertebrae are both neutral and stable (bisected by the center sacral line) postoperatively. Additional segments may need to be included in the adult patient in whom extensive degenerative changes and subluxations are present. The decision of whether to terminate a long fusion at L-5 or the sacrum in an adult degenerative lumbar curve is complex and many factors have to be considered. Conclusions. Guidelines exist for fusion levels in both adolescent and adult patients. Not all curves require fusion. There are many coronal and sagittal considerations that have to be analyzed when making the final decision.
Expanding the Integrated Model of Judicial Decision Making: The California Justices and Capital Punishment

This study of the death penalty decisions made by justices of the California Supreme Court between 1979 and 1990 elaborates on the integrated model used to explain judicial behavior. Specifically, the interactive effects of judicial ideology, case characteristics, the political environment, the dynamic effects of legal issues, and the effects of retention elections are explored. The model does provide a useful explanation of judicial behavior. In addition, this study indicates that the effects of legal arguments and case facts are conditioned by judicial ideology, that the effects of legal issues change over time, and that electoral pressures do not have a uniform effect across judges.