cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal and infant characteristics associated with accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed in US infants.

To identify maternal and infant characteristics associated with accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB) in US infants. Using 2000–2002 US linked infant birth and death certificate cohort files, we compared ASSB deaths to survivors. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) from logistic regression were used to analyze associations between selected maternal and infant characteristics and ASSB mortality. During 2000–2002, 1,064 infants died from ASSB, resulting in an ASSB mortality rate of 9.2 per 100,000 live births. Most ASSB deaths (71%) occurred before an infant reached 4 months old. Maternal factors associated with an increased risk of ASSB were younger age (using maternal age of 25–29 years as reference aOR 2.6 for mothers <20 years old and 1.6 for mothers 20–24 years old), lower educational attainment (aOR 4.3 for <12 years and 3.3 for 12 years compared to ≥16 years), multiparity (aOR 1.7, 2.2, and 3.5 for parity 2, 3, and 4 or higher, respectively) and smoking during pregnancy (aOR 2.8). Compared to non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks (aOR 1.8) and American Indians (aOR 1.8) were more likely to have an ASSB death. Being male and born preterm were also associated with a higher ASSB mortality risk. Younger, less educated, mulitparous, non-Hispanic black or American Indian women and their families who smoke during their pregnancy and deliver male or preterm infants, may need more intense safe sleeping education during the infant’s first year of life, especially during the first 4 months of age.
Recognition of Epidermal Transglutaminase by IgA and Tissue Transglutaminase 2 Antibodies in a Rare Case of Rhesus Dermatitis

Tissue transglutaminase 2 (tTG2) is an intestinal digestive enzyme which deamidates already partially digested dietary gluten e.g. gliadin peptides. In genetically predisposed individuals, tTG2 triggers autoimmune responses that are characterized by the production of tTG2 antibodies and their direct deposition into small intestinal wall. The presence of such antibodies constitutes one of the major hallmarks of the celiac disease (CD). Epidermal transglutaminase (eTG) is another member of the transglutaminase family that can also function as an autoantigen in a small minority of CD patients. In these relatively rare cases, eTG triggers an autoimmune reaction (a skin rash) clinically known as dermatitis herpetiformis (DH). Although the exact mechanism of CD and DH pathogenesis is not well understood, it is known that tTG2 and eTG share antigenic epitopes that can be recognized by serum antibodies from both CD and DH patients. In this study, the confocal microscopy examination of biopsy samples from skin lesions of two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with dermatitis (Table 1, Fig. 1 and 2) was used to study the affected tissues. In one animal (EM96) a spectral overlap of IgA and tTG2 antibodies (Fig. 3) was demonstrated. The presence of double-positive tTG2+IgA+ cells was focused in the deep epidermis, around the dermal papillae. This is consistent with lesions described in DH patients. When EM96 was placed on a gluten-free diet, the dermatitis, as well as tTG2+IgA+ deposits disappeared and were no longer detectable (Figs. 1-3). Dermatitis reappeared however, based on re-introduction of dietary gluten in EM96 (not shown). In other macaques including animal with unrelated dermatitis, the tTG2+IgA+ deposits were not detected. Gluten-free diet-dependent remission of dermatitis in EM96 together with presence of tTG2+IgA+ cells in its skin suggest an autoimmune, DH-like mechanism for the development of this condition. This is the first report of DH-like dermatitis in any non-human primate.
Disconnected general systems

The properties of general systems, so-called disconnectedness, connectedness, and hereditary disconnectedness, are studied. The construction of star sets plays an important role in the study of the following topics: structures of (hereditary) disconnecied systems; equivalent conditions of (hereditary) disconnected systems; equivalent conditions of disconnectedness of quotient systems. Conditions, under which disconnectedness of factor systems can be lifted up to product systems and cartesian product systems, and conditions under which disconnectedness of product systems (cartesian product systems) can predict the disconnectedness of factor systems, are given.
EFFECT OF INCISION AND SAPHENOUS VEIN GRAFTING FOR PEYRONIE’S DISEASE ON PENILE LENGTH AND SEXUAL SATISFACTION

Purpose: We determined the effect of incision and saphenous vein grafting on penile length, erectile function and overall sexual satisfaction in men with Peyronie’s disease.Materials and Methods: A total of 24 consecutive men underwent plaque incision and saphenous vein grafting with postoperative daily use of a vacuum erection device. Erect penile length, pain, curvature and erectile function were assessed before and after surgery, and overall sexual satisfaction was scored from 1 to 5 by a validated instrument.Results: Of the 22 patients in whom adequate followup data were available mean penile length was increased 2.1 cm. as a result of surgery (p <0.001). Median score of overall satisfaction with sex life was 4 or moderately satisfied. Of the 86% of men who achieved sexual intercourse after surgery 54% used no erectile aids and 32% required sildenafil or intracavernous injection. Complete erectile dysfunction was present in 14% of cases. Patients who reported erectile difficulty preoperatively were si...
MR. Engineer, meet the FCC

Engineers working in the field of communications should be knowledgeable of how the Federal Communications Commission can and does affect their company, their products, and their customers. Moreover, they should know how to communicate with the Commission on any matter of mutual importance. It is the intent of this paper, by way of a straightforward description of the Commission's structure and functions, to overcome the unfortunate lack of familiarity which seems to exist on this subject within our professional ranks. The relation of engineer to lawyer as well as engineer to engineer is also discussed. A cursory review of the non-technical offices completes and ties together this elementary course of "What Every Engineer Should Know About the FCC."
Design considerations for a dual-frequency radar for sea spray measurement in hurricanes

Over the last few years, researchers have determined that sea spray from breaking waves can have a large effect on the magnitude and distribution of the air-sea energy flux at hurricane-force wind speeds. Characterizing the fluxes requires estimates of the height-dependent droplet size distribution (DSD). Currently, the few available measurements have been acquired with spectrometer probes, which can provide only flight-level measurements. As such, in-situ measurement of near-surface droplet fluxes in hurricanes with these instruments is, at best, extremely challenging, if at all possible. This paper describes an airborne dual-wavelength radar profiler concept to retrieve the DSD of sea spray.
A microflow amperometric glucose biosensor

We investigate a small glucose sensor that uses a flow-through enzyme bed and reaction endpoint approach that seems particularly suited to microdialysis-type subcutaneous or intravascular glucose sensors. The particular configuration has the advantage of relative insensitivity to blood oxygen changes and also to factors which affect enzyme activity compared to conventional polarographic type glucose sensors. We evaluate the placement of a microdialysis fiber into a near-surface blood vessel in the dog model as a means of blood glucose sampling and to determine the effects of protein deposition. We observe a progressive decline in intravascular membrane fiber transport that must be considered in sensor design.
Systematic under- and overestimation of GHG reductions in renewable biomass systems

This paper identifies a critical systematic error in greenhouse gas accounting in renewable biomass systems. While CO2 emissions from renewable biomass energy systems are generally considered to have a net impact of 0, no similar adjustment is made for carbon-based products of incomplete combustion, such as methane, in renewable systems. This results in an under- or overestimation of the impact of CH4 by 12.3% and CO by ∼478% in renewable systems. This error is propagated both in scientific studies and in carbon accounting policies. We advocate first for full-carbon accounting of biomass-derived emissions, but also provide adjusted global warming impacts for emissions from proven renewable systems.
A novel protein cross-linking reaction in stressed neutral protamine hagedorn formulations of insulin

The covalent insulin–protamine product molecules formed by heat stress in Neutral Protamine Hagedorn formulations of insulin and the insulin analogue [LysB28,ProB29] were examined by mass spectrometry. The results demonstrated that the covalent cross-link between insulin and protamine was not caused by linkage through the protamine N-terminal amino group, as had been previously thought. Our results indicate that the linkage was formed between the side chain of a protamine arginine and a histidine in the insulin B chain, resulting in a net mass change of −5 Da, compared to the sum of the protamine and insulin molecular masses. A mechanism for this new type of covalent cross-linking reaction is proposed.
Safer one-pot synthesis of the ‘SHAPE’ reagent 1-methyl-7-nitroisatoic anhydride (1m7)

Estimating the reactivity of 2'-hydroxyl groups along an RNA chain of interest aids in the modeling of the folded RNA structure; flexible loops tend to be reactive, whereas duplex regions are generally not. Among the most useful reagents for probing 2'-hydroxyl reactivity is 1-methyl-7-nitroisatoic anhydride (1m7), but the absence of a reliable, inexpensive source has prevented widespread adoption. An existing protocol for the conversion of an inexpensive precursor 4-nitroisatoic anhydride (4NIA) recommends the use of NaH in dimethylformamide (DMF), a reagent combination that most molecular biology labs are not equipped to handle, and that does not scale safely in any case. Here we describe a safer, one-pot method for bulk conversion of 4NIA to 1m7 that reduces costs and bypasses the use of NaH. We show that 1m7 produced by this method is free of side products and can be used to probe RNA structure in vitro.
Digitizing special collections: to boldly go where we've been before

Purpose – Aims to present issues related to digitization in the context of the historical role and purpose of academic special collections.Design/methodology/approach – Presents a comparison of current issues related to digitization to historical issues related to the management of traditional print special collections.Findings – The current issues are not new. Technology has not dramatically altered the role of special collections in academic libraries.Research limitations/implications – Based on personal observation and experience and an awareness of issues, but essentially a personal viewpoint.Practical implications – May provide non‐special collections librarians with a better understanding of, or different perspective on, the popular notion of “digitizing special collections” and of special collections historically and generally.Originality/value – This is the viewpoint of an experienced head of special collections, a trained academic historian, and someone who has been involved in a number of digita...
Calculating effective absolute permeability in sandstone/shale sequences

In this paper two averaging algorithms are proposed for determining block effective absolute permeability. The experimental relationship between the effective permeability, the volume fraction of shale, and the anisotropy of the shales is first observed through repeated flow simulations. A power-averaging model and a percolation model are proposed to fit the experimentally observed relationship. The power-averaging model provides a surprisingly easy and efficient way to calculate block effective absolute permeability. A simple graph is given to determine the averaging power from the geometric anisotropy (aspect ratio) of the shales for both vertical and horizontal steady-state flow. A correction for large shales relative to small gridblocks is also proposed.
Interplay between Drosophila Bloom's syndrome helicase and Ku autoantigen during nonhomologous end joining repair of P element-induced DNA breaks

P transposable elements in Drosophila are mobilized via a cut-and-paste mechanism. The broken DNA ends generated during transposition can be repaired via the homology-directed synthesis-dependent strand annealing or by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Genetic studies have demonstrated an interaction between the gene (mus309, for mutagen-sensitive) encoding the Drosophila Bloom's syndrome helicase homolog (DmBLM) and the Ku70 gene, which is involved in NHEJ. We have used RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down expression of DmBLM and one or both of the Drosophila Ku subunits, DmKu70 or DmKu80. Our results show that upon reduction of DmKu, an increase in small deletions (1-49 bp) and large deletions (>/=50 bp) flanking the site of P element-induced breaks is observed, and a reduction in large deletions at these sites is found upon reduction of DmBLM. Moreover, double RNAi of DmKu and DmBLM results in an increase in small deletions characteristic of the DmKu RNAi and also partially suppresses the reduction in repair efficiency observed with DmKu RNAi. These results suggest that there are DNA double-strand break recognition and/or processing events involving DmKu and DmBLM that, when eliminated by RNAi, lead to deletions. Finally, these results raise the possibility that, unlike the situation in mammals, where BLM appears to function exclusively in the homologous repair pathway, in Drosophila, DmBLM may be directly involved in, or at least influence the double-strand break recognition that leads to the NHEJ repair pathway.
Sequence-dependent motions of DNA: A normal mode analysis at the base-pair level

Computer simulation of the dynamic structure of DNA can be carried out at various levels of resolution. Detailed high resolution information about the motions of DNA is typically collected for the atoms in a few turns of double helix. At low resolution, by contrast, the sequence-dependence features of DNA are usually neglected and molecules with thousands of base pairs are treated as ideal elastic rods. The present normal mode analysis of DNA in terms of six base-pair "step" parameters per chain residue addresses the dynamic structure of the double helix at intermediate resolution, i.e., the mesoscopic level of a few hundred base pairs. Sequence-dependent effects are incorporated into the calculations by taking advantage of "knowledge-based" harmonic energy functions deduced from the mean values and dispersion of the base-pair "step" parameters in high-resolution DNA crystal structures. Spatial arrangements sampled along the dominant low frequency modes have end-to-end distances comparable to those of exact polymer models which incorporate all possible chain configurations. The normal mode analysis accounts for the overall bending, i.e., persistence length, of the double helix and shows how known discrepancies in the measured twisting constants of long DNA molecules could originate in the deformability of neighboring base-pair steps. The calculations also reveal how the natural coupling of local conformational variables affects the global motions of DNA. Successful correspondence of the computed stretching modulus with experimental data requires that the DNA base pairs be inclined with respect to the direction of stretching, with chain extension effected by low energy transverse motions that preserve the strong van der Waals' attractions of neighboring base-pair planes. The calculations further show how one can "engineer" the macroscopic properties of DNA in terms of dimer deformability so that polymers which are intrinsically straight in the equilibrium state exhibit the mesoscopic bending anisotropy essential to DNA curvature and loop formation.
Key problems in the management of children with brain tumors.

Abstract Steady progress has been made in the clinical management of children with brain tumors. Better diagnostic methods and more efficient surgical, radiotherapeutic, and chemotherapeutic techniques have evolved singly and in various combinations. These advances have at times created problems in patient management; for example, interpretation of clinically inexplicable signal changes on magnetic resonance imaging. Equally substantive, and at a more basic level, is the fact that understanding of the nature of the various tumors remains elusive in many cases. Some lesions seem to behave more like maldevelopments than neoplasms. Specific markers for any of the several tumor types in children with other conditions, both benign and malignant. Fundamental research is hampered by the difficulty in children with other conditions, both benign and malignant. Fundamental research is hampered by the difficulty in establishing cell lines for even the medulloblastoma, the most common of the frankly malignant group. Until these problems are supervened, important advances will largely remain at the clinical and morphologic level. Close coordination and careful correlation of data among the several members of the pediatric neuro-oncology team is essential for success. Clinical trials of combined modality care especially require well-reasoned rationales and and careful definition of objectives, and must include meticulous evaluation of the late effects of therapy in survivors.
Abstract 4916: Efficiacy of NU7441-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles in radiation sensitization of prostate cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Introduction: Prostate cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men with an estimated 241,740 new cases and 28,170 deaths expected by end of 2012. Conventional cancer treatments such as radiation therapy can be ineffective due to radiation resistance of prostate cancer cells. This resistance arises due to their increased DNA double strand break (DSB) repair ability, especially through Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ). In this study, we have developed biodegradable and biocompatible poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based nanoparticles containing the potent radio-sensitizer NU7441 (8-dibenzothiophen-4-yl-2-morpholin-4-yl-chromen-4-one) for radiation sensitization of prostate cancer cells by inhibiting DNA-dependent protein kinase, which regulates NHEJ. Methods: PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating NU7441 and iron oxide as an imaging and targeting agent were prepared by a standard double emulsion technique and characterized for size and surface charge. R11 peptide was surface conjugated onto the nanoparticles for prostate cancer-specific targeting. Stability studies in de-ionized (DI) water and serum were conducted over 5 days followed by drug release studies in DI water at 37oC. Further, in vitro studies were done to study cytocompatibility with prostate epithelial cells (PZ-HPV7) and cellular uptake by prostate cancer cells (PC3). DSB repair kinetics of prostate cancer cells following nanoparticle uptake was studied using a DSB repair assay. Results: Our nanoparticles had an average size of 274.13+ 79.96 nm and showed good stability in water and serum for 5 days. The nanoparticles also showed bi-phasic NU7441 release within 21 days at 37oC and >80% PZ-HPV7 cell viability up to 2000 µg/ml nanoparticle concentration. Further, the particles were selectively uptake by PC3 cells in a dose and magnetic field-dependent manner and showed effective radiation sensitization of these cells in vitro. Conclusions: Our results thus demonstrate that R11-conjugated PLGA-iron oxide nanoparticles containing NU7441 are biocompatible and can be potentially used to radio-sensitize prostate cancer cells in vivo. Citation Format: Jyothi U. Menon, Vasu Tumati, Jer-Tsong Hsieh, Kytai T. Nguyen, Debabrata Saha. Efficiacy of NU7441-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles in radiation sensitization of prostate cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4916. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4916
Inferring nitrogen removal in large rivers from high-resolution longitudinal profiling

We present a method for estimating nitrogen (N) removal based on high-resolution longitudinal profiling, which facilitates repeated measurement in larger rivers. The Lagrangian reference frame allows removal to be spatially disaggregated, enabling identification of removal “hot spots,” and potentially passive assessment of reaction kinetics using ambient longitudinal concentration gradients. Applying the method in six spring-fed rivers in North Florida, we tested the hypothesis that removal is controlled by spatial variation in channel hydraulics and vegetation. Removal estimates obtained using this method were statistically robust, spatially consistent across replicate profiles, and comparable to measurements made in these and other systems of similar size using alternative methods. We observed significantly increased removal in reaches with lower specific discharge and in more heavily vegetated reaches. Assessing uptake kinetics directly from longitudinal profiles assumes negligible sampling effects from temporally variable removal, non-instantaneous sampling velocities, and the mixing of water along the flowpath. Results from a reactive transport model suggest these effects are significant, producing complex profile geometries. Relatively small differences between alternative kinetic models substantially limit inferences about reaction order when utilizing the small concentration gradients observed longitudinally within rivers. Across rivers, N removal follows either efficiency-loss (exponent = 0.39) or Michaelis—Menten kinetics, but not zero- or first-order kinetics.
Rapid assessment of endogenous creatinine in physiological samples analyzed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection

Abstract An improved and direct analysis of endogenous creatinine levels using the reversed-phase mode of high performance liquid chromatography (RPLC) is described. The analysis is rapid, the sensitivity of the spectrophotometric detection is in the nanomole range, and the sample preparation requires only filtration to remove the particulate matter. Identification of chromatographic peaks was achieved by means of absorbance ratios, stopped-flow UV spectra and prechromatographic incubation of samples with creatinine amidohydrolase. Reported in this paper are representative chromatograms of samples of amniotic fluid, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The ranges of creatinine concentrations in 10 samples of amniotic fluid, urine and CSF were 0.774–1.850, 99–454.5 and 0.648–1.05 mg/100 ml, respectively. This highly specific and simple assay offers several improvements over previously used methods.
Antimicrobial guidelines for the treatment of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in immunocompetent children

Acute rhinosinusitis represents a condition for which educational efforts could help minimize the inappropriate use of antibiotics, particularly for children. The majority of acute rhinosinusitis cases are of viral etiology and thus, are self limiting. Although bacterial infection complicates a small number of cases, the lack of accessibility to the sinus, the limitations of diagnostic modalities and the lack of specificity among signs and symptoms often make it difficult to determine when bacterial infection occurs. Furthermore, antimicrobial resistance among the pathogens that frequently cause bacterial infection complicates the election of empiric therapy. The Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership recently developed and published antimicrobial guidelines to provide practitioners in the US with recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. The purpose of this paper is to review the rationale behind the development of these guidelines and how they apply to the management of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in children.
Students' race and teachers' social support affect the positive feedback bias in public schools

This research tested whether public school teachers display the positive feedback bias, wherein Whites give more praise and less criticism to minorities than to fellow Whites for equivalent work. It also tested whether teachers lacking in school-based social support (i.e., support from fellow teachers and school administrators) are more likely to display the positive bias and whether the positive feedback bias applies to Latinos as well as to Blacks. White middle school and high school teachers from 2 demographically distinct public school districts gave feedback on a poorly written essay supposedly authored by a Black, Latino, or White student. Teachers in the Black student condition showed the positive bias, but only if they lacked school-based social support. Teachers in the Latino student condition showed the positive bias regardless of school-based support. These results indicate that the positive feedback bias may contribute to the insufficient challenge that undermines minority students' academic achievement.
Maximum likelihood estimation of a distribution function with increasing failure rate based on censored observations

Abstract : The maximum likelihood estimator of a distribution function with monotone failure rate is derived based on a set of observations subject to arbitrary right censorship. This estimator is defined everywhere on the positive real line while the Kaplan-Meier estimator may not be. The small sample properties of this estimator are indicated by results of a Monte Carlo study for the Weibull distribution. (Author)
Slow Amyloid Nucleation via α-Helix-Rich Oligomeric Intermediates in Short Polyglutamine-Containing Huntingtin Fragments

The 17-amino-acid N-terminal segment (httNT) that leads into the polyglutamine (polyQ) segment in the Huntington's disease protein huntingtin (htt) dramatically increases aggregation rates and changes the aggregation mechanism, compared to a simple polyQ peptide of similar length. With polyQ segments near or above the pathological repeat length threshold of about 37, aggregation of htt N-terminal fragments is so rapid that it is difficult to tease out mechanistic details. We describe here the use of very short polyQ repeat lengths in htt N-terminal fragments to slow this disease-associated aggregation. Although all of these peptides, in addition to httNT itself, form α-helix-rich oligomeric intermediates, only peptides with QN of eight or longer mature into amyloid-like aggregates, doing so by a slow increase in β-structure. Concentration-dependent circular dichroism and analytical ultracentrifugation suggest that the httNT sequence, with or without added glutamine residues, exists in solution as an equilibrium between disordered monomer and α-helical tetramer. Higher order, α-helix rich oligomers appear to be built up via these tetramers. However, only httNTQN peptides with N=8 or more undergo conversion into polyQ β-sheet aggregates. These final amyloid-like aggregates not only feature the expected high β-sheet content but also retain an element of solvent-exposed α-helix. The α-helix-rich oligomeric intermediates appear to be both on- and off-pathway, with some oligomers serving as the pool from within which nuclei emerge, while those that fail to undergo amyloid nucleation serve as a reservoir for release of monomers to support fibril elongation. Based on a regular pattern of multimers observed in analytical ultracentrifugation, and a concentration dependence of α-helix formation in CD spectroscopy, it is likely that these oligomers assemble via a four-helix assembly unit. PolyQ expansion in these peptides appears to enhance the rates of both oligomer formation and nucleation from within the oligomer population, by structural mechanisms that remain unclear.
Exploration of the normal human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid proteome

We obtained insight into normal lung function by proteome analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from six normal human subjects using a "Lyse-N-Go' shotgun proteomic protocol. Intra-sample variation was calculated using three different label-free methods, (i) protein sequence coverage; (ii) peptide spectral counts and (iii) peptide single-ion current areas (PICA), which generates protein expression data by summation of the area under the curve for a given peptide single-ion current trace and then adding values for all peptides from that same parent protein. PICA gave the least intra-subject variability and was used to calculate differences in protein expression between the six subjects. We observed an average threefold inter-sample variability, which affects analysis of changes in protein expression that occur in different diseases. We detected 167 unique proteins with >100 proteins detected in each of the six individual BAL samples, 42 of which were common to all six subjects. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated enrichment of several biological processes in the lung, reflecting its expected role in gas exchange and host defense as an immune organ. The same biological processes were enriched compared to either plasma or total genome proteome, suggesting an active enrichment of plasma proteins in the lung rather than passive capillary leak.
Copper-Free Click for PET: Rapid 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions with a Fluorine-18 Cyclooctyne.

The strain-promoted click 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions involving azides and cyclooctynes for the synthesis of triazoles offer the advantage of being able to be performed in biological settings via copper-free chemistries. While strained reagents conjugated to optical dyes and radiometal conjugates have been reported, cyclooctyne reagents labeled with fluorine-18 (18F) and radiochemically evaluated in a copper-free click reaction have yet to be explored. This report describes the conversion of a bifunctional azadibenzocyclooctyne (ADIBO) amine to the 18F-labeled cyclooctyne 4, the subsequent fast copper-free 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with alkyl azides at 37 °C (>70% radiochemical conversion in 30 min), and biological evaluations (serum stability of >95% at 2 h). These findings demonstrate the excellent reactivity of the 18F-labeled cyclooctyne 4 with readily available azides that will allow future work focusing on rapid copper-free in vitro and in vivo click chemistries for PET imaging usin...
Impact of Newborn Follow-up Visit Timing on Subsequent ED Visits and Hospital Readmissions: An Instrumental Variable Analysis

Abstract Objective To determine whether newborn first outpatient visit (FOV) within 3 days of discharge is associated with reduced rates of emergency department (ED) visits and hospital readmissions. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis was performed of all newborns who were born and had outpatient follow-up within a large academic medical center to determine whether they had ED visits or hospital readmission within 2 weeks after hospital discharge. Multivariable regression using an instrumental variable for timing of FOV was conducted to estimate the relationship between FOV within 3 days of discharge and ED visits and hospital readmissions within 2 weeks of discharge, adjusting for potential confounders. Stratified analyses assessed this relationship in subpopulations with medical or social risk factors. Results Of 3282 newborns, 178 (5%) had 1 or more ED visits or hospital readmissions within 2 weeks of hospital discharge. FOV within 3 days was not significantly associated with ED visits and readmissions in the instrumental variable analysis (IVA) (−0.035, P = .11) or the ordinary least squares analysis (OLS) (0.006, P = .52). The difference in coefficients between these analyses, however, suggests that IVA successfully adjusted for some unmeasured bias. In stratified analyses, only newborns born to African American mothers or discharged by family medicine providers demonstrated a significant relationship between FOV within 3 days and reduced odds of ED visits and readmissions. Conclusions No significant relationship between outpatient visit timing and ED visits and hospital readmissions was found. Further study is needed to assess the impact of early outpatient visits on other newborn outcomes.
Behavioral Treatment of the Victims of Child Abuse and Neglect

Although there is a little debate that victims of child abuse and neglect suffer ill effect, scientifically validated, behavioral treatment of child victims is virtually nonexistent. This article examines three pertinent facets of the child-maltreatment knowledge base: (a) national child abuse and neglect reporting, (b) empirical investigations of the psychological effects of maltreatment, and (c) a small number of treatment outcome studies. Based on this review, guidelines are presented to promote the development of practical, treatment outcome investigations that adequately reflect existing data about child victims and their life circumstances and that are responsive to their specific needs and available resources.
Parallel algorithms for 3D reconstruction of asymmetric objects from electron micrographs

We present new parallel algorithms for 3D reconstruction of objects from 2D projections and their application for the determination of the structure of macromolecules from electron micrographs. A multi-resolution orientation determination algorithm uses a parallel search to determine the 'best fit' of a given image with images in a reference database. The 3D reconstruction algorithm uses Cartesian coordinates and permits the reconstruction of objects that do not possess symmetries. The method decomposes a large linear system into a set of smaller systems that can be solved independently on different processors of a parallel computer or on a cluster of workstations. The paper outlines the reconstruction process and the data partitioning and load balancing issues pertinent to the parallel implementation of the algorithm; preliminary results obtained on a SGI Origin 2000 system are given.
Peptic Digestion of Streptococcal M Protein I. Effect of Digestion at Suboptimal pH upon the Biological and Immunochemical Properties of Purified M Protein Extracts

Abstract Purified streptococcal M protein vaccines often produce non-type-specific immunotoxic reactions in the skin or the blood of humans. In an attempt to free the type-specific M antigen (TSM) of such non-type-specific (NTSM) immunotoxic properties, purified M protein preparations were subjected to brief periods (5 to 10 min) of enzymatic digestion in dilute solutions of pepsin (20 μg/ml) at pH 5.0. Such peptic digestion abolished the ability of M protein to aggregate platelets in human platelet-rich plasma and to precipitate plasma fibrinogen. It greatly reduced (up to 16-fold) the capacity of M protein to react with the NTSM complement-fixing antibody that is normally present in human serum. In contrast, it had no effect upon the reactivity of the type-specific M antigen; the pepsin-treated M protein retained its ability to inhibit type-specific streptococcal opsonization by homologous M antibody, and, moreover, retained its ability to elicit type-specific opsonic antibody responses in rabbits.
Relationship between the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide redox potential and the 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate content in the erythrocyte in sickle cell disease

The percentage of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the oxidized form [NAD+/(NAD+ and NADH); i.e. the NAD+/NADT ratio] is increased in the red cell (RBC) in sickle cell disease. We tested the hypothesis that the increased NAD+/NADT ratio was a determinant of the increased 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) content of the SCD RBC. Using normal subjects and individuals with sickle cell disease or autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), we observed an inverse relationship between the packed cell volume (PCV) and the RBC DPG concentration (r = -0.69) and a direct relationship between the RBC NAD+/NADT ratio and the DPG concentration (r = 0.74). When the effect of the PCV on DPG was removed using analysis of covariance [DPGady(PCV)], the NAD+/NADT ratio had a significant relationship with the DPGadj(PCV) (r = 0.50, P less than 0.001). In in vitro incubation studies, increasing the NAD+/NADT ratio significantly increased the DPG content of both normal and AIHA RBC. Conversely, decreasing the NAD+/NADT ratio decreased the DPG content of normal, AIHA and SCD RBC. Thus, the increased DPG content in the SCD RBC appears to be due, in part, to the increased NAD+/NADT ratio and is not purely a physiologic response to decreased oxygen carrying capacity.
Constructing an Industrial Divide: Western Union, AT&T, and the Federal Government, 1876–1971

An 1879 contract between Western Union and Bell partitioned the electrical communications industry between the telegraph and telephone markets. Historians typically view this contract as the start of both Western Union's decline and Bell's rise, and they have treated these as largely separate processes. This article argues instead that these processes were linked by a porous and shifting boundary between the two industries. Legal, technical, and regulatory factors interacted to shape this boundary over the next century. The 1879 contract failed to keep Bell out of long-distance communications, as Bell used its market power, geographic reach, and technological superiority to penetrate this boundary. Throughout much of the twentieth century, federal regulators and Western Union executives attempted to strengthen this divide through regulatory means. The attempt failed because AT&T controlled key telegraph technologies and had considerable market power. While regulators propped up Western Union as the only competitor to AT&T, by the 1960s it was offering only token competition.
p53 Protein Overexpression in Bone Marrow Biopsies of Patients With Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Has a Prevalence Similar to That of Patients With Refractory Anemia

Abstract Context.—Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by pancreatic insufficiency, neutropenia, and in some patients, metaphyseal dysostosis. Patients with SDS are at a high risk for development of bone marrow failure, myelodysplastic syndrome, and acute leukemia. The p53 gene plays a major role in cell-cycle regulation, particularly in the presence of a genetic alteration in DNA, a critical step for the initiation of leukemogenesis. p53 gene up-regulation and p53 protein overexpression may occur as a cellular reaction to significant DNA damage. Shwachman-Diamond syndrome and refractory anemia patients have close similarities in the prevalence of acute leukemia and in cell-cycle changes in bone marrow cells. This similarity was further investigated for p53 protein overexpression using archived tissue from patients with hematologic diseases having various leukemic propensities, including SDS and refractory anemia. Methods.—Immunohistochemical staining for p53 protein...
Microfabricated radioisotope-powered active RFID transponder

We demonstrate a microfabricated 63Ni radioisotope-powered RFID transponder realized with a SAW (surface acoustic wave) device as the transmission frequency selector. The transponder is powered by a 1.5 milli-Ci 63Ni source which has a half-life of 100 years. We have achieved a 5mW, 10-µs long, 100MHz carrier envelope, RF pulses which occur every 3 minutes, across a 50Ω load. The transponder can potentially work autonomously for decades, which can revolutionize long term reliable sensing and monitoring.
An interactive system for video content exploration

A user-centered video exploration system is essential for video content browsing and searching. In this paper, we present a system that facilitates video content exploration to any level of detail within any video segment. The proposed system allows semantic exploration of video content in a user-controlled fashion. This system contains two subsystems. First, a two-level video buffer system is introduced to filter insignificant and redundant frames and organize video key frames in a graph index structure, which facilitates hierarchical exploration of video content. Second, a user interface is developed to help users interactively explore video content. The system introduces three important features: interactive video exploration, semantic video content overview, and semantic video exploration at different level of detail. A user study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed system and shows the user-friendliness of the user interface
A new symbolic technique for control-dependent scheduling

This paper describes an exact symbolic formulation of control-dependent, resource-constrained scheduling. The technique provides a closed-form solution set in which all satisfying schedules are encapsulated in a compressed OBDD-based representation. This solution format greatly increases the flexibility of the synthesis task by enabling incremental incorporation of additional constraints and by supporting solution space exploration without the need for rescheduling. The technique provides a systematic treatment of speculative operation execution in arbitrary forward-branching control/data paths. An iterative construction method is presented along with benchmark results. The experiments demonstrate the ability of the proposed technique to efficiently exploit parallelism not explicitly specified in the input description.
Gender role attitudes, religion, and spirituality as predictors of domestic violence attitudes in White college students

In this study we investigated gender role attitudes, religion, and spirituality as predictors of beliefs about violence against women in a sample of 316 White college students. Results indicated that gender role attitudes were the best overall predictor of domestic violence beliefs. Spirituality also contributed to the models for men and women. Implications and intervention strategies to address dating violence among college students are discussed.
Fundamentals of Compressible Turbulent Mixing

This chapter provides a brief introduction to the fundamentals of compressible turbulent mixing in flows such as jets and mixing layers, which are of considerable importance in aerospace applications. Two key changes are found to occur when these types of flows are compressible: (i) the shear layer growth rate is reduced compared with incompressible flow, and (ii) the turbulence structure becomes altered. While several theories have been proposed for why these changes occur, the current belief is that the propagation of pressure fluctuations is hindered by the finite speed of sound in a compressible medium. This reduced communication across the shear layer disrupts the natural agglomeration of turbulent eddies. Keywords: compressible; instability; jet; mixing; shear; structure; turbulence
Fabrication and performance of two-dimensional matrix addressable arrays of integrated vertical-cavity lasers and resonant cavity photodetectors

Massively parallel interconnects and scannerless imaging are applications that would benefit from high-density two-dimensional arrays of lasers. Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are uniquely suited for these applications due to their small size and high efficiency. We have successfully fabricated 64 /spl times/ 64 element arrays containing alternating rows of selectively-oxidized 850 nm VCSELs and resonant-cavity photodetectors (RCPDs) monolithically integrated on semi-insulating GaAs substrates. In order to reduce the input and output connections to the array, we employ a matrix addressable architecture, where all the VCSELs (or RCPDs) in each row are connected by a common metal trace at the base of their mesas. The columns are connected by metal traces that bridge from mesa top to mesa top, connecting every other row (i.e., only VCSELs or only RCPDs). The pitch of devices in the array is 55 /spl mu/m, and the total resistance contributed by the long (up to 3.5 mm) row and column traces is below 50 /spl Omega/. The design, fabrication, and performance of these arrays are discussed.
Implications for evaluators from the Fort Bragg evaluation

Abstract This paper briefly describes an $80 million project designed to evaluate whether a coordinated continuum of mental health and substance abuse services for children and adolescents is more cost effective than services delivered in the more typical fragmented system. The evaluation examined the implementation and quality of the demonstration and the impact on service utilization, client satisfaction, clinical outcomes and cost. Several competing explanations for the results are described and implications for evaluators are discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the major evaluation lessons learned in this study.
Geospatial Considerations for a Multiorganizational, Landscape-Scale Program

Geospatial data play an increasingly important role in natural resources management, conservation, and science-based projects. The management and effective use of spatial data becomes significantly more complex when the efforts involve a myriad of landscape-scale projects combined with a multiorganizational collaboration. There is sparse literature to guide users on this daunting subject; therefore, we present a framework of considerations for working with geospatial data that will provide direction to data stewards, scientists, collaborators, and managers for developing geospatial management plans. The concepts we present apply to a variety of geospatial programs or projects, which we describe as a “scalable framework” of processes for integrating geospatial efforts with management, science, and conservation initiatives. Our framework includes five tenets of geospatial data management: (1) the importance of investing in data management and standardization, (2) the scalability of content/efforts addressed...
Relative entropy as a measure of diagnostic information.

Relative entropy is a concept within information theory that provides a measure of the distance between two probability distributions. The author proposes that the amount of information gained by performing a diagnostic test can be quantified by calculating the relative entropy between the posttest and pretest probability distributions. This statistic, in essence, quantifies the degree to which the results of a diagnostic test are likely to reduce our surprise upon ultimately learning a patient's diagnosis. A previously proposed measure of diagnostic information that is also based on information theory (pretest entropy minus posttest entropy) has been criticized as failing, in some cases, to agree with our intuitive concept of diagnostic information. The proposed formula passes the tests used to challenge this previous measure. Key words: diagnostic test; entropy; information theory; relative entropy; uncertainty. (Med Decis Making 1999;19: 202-206)
Creation and Evolution of New Ribozymes

To better understand the basic properties of RNA as a catalyst, and to determine whether these properties are compatible with the RNA world scenario, we have been isolating new RNA catalysts (ribozymes) from large pools of random RNA sequences (1, 2). Supplementing the meager number of known types of ribozymes found in nature with these artificial ribozymes permits a more complete understanding of RNA catalysis and allows us to address questions related to the origins of biocatalysis, such as the activity, size, and distribution of catalysts in sequence space (3). The hypothesis that certain RNA molecules may be able to catalyze RNA replication is central to the RNA world scenario (4). In support of this idea, we have generated an RNA that synthesizes RNA using the same reaction as that employed by protein enzymes that catalyze RNA polymerization (5). In the presence of the appropriate template RNA and nucleoside triphosphates, the ribozyme extends an RNA primer by the successive addition of up to six mononucleotides. The ribozyme shows significant template fidelity; extension by nucleotides complementary to the template is generally 30 times faster than that by a mismatched nucleotide. This ribozyme will serve as a starting point in efforts to evolve ribozymes capable of more extensive and accurate