cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical and virologic characteristics of the first 12 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States.

Data on the detailed clinical progression of COVID-19 in conjunction with epidemiological and virological characteristics are limited. In this case series, we describe the first 12 US patients confirmed to have COVID-19 from 20 January to 5 February 2020, including 4 patients described previously1,2,3. Respiratory, stool, serum and urine specimens were submitted for SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing, viral culture and whole genome sequencing. Median age was 53 years (range: 21–68); 8 patients were male. Common symptoms at illness onset were cough (n = 8) and fever (n = 7). Patients had mild to moderately severe illness; seven were hospitalized and demonstrated clinical or laboratory signs of worsening during the second week of illness. No patients required mechanical ventilation and all recovered. All had SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in respiratory specimens, typically for 2–3 weeks after illness onset. Lowest real-time PCR with reverse transcription cycle threshold values in the upper respiratory tract were often detected in the first week and SARS-CoV-2 was cultured from early respiratory specimens. These data provide insight into the natural history of SARS-CoV-2. Although infectiousness is unclear, highest viral RNA levels were identified in the first week of illness. Clinicians should anticipate that some patients may worsen in the second week of illness.
Room for Improvement: The Trephination Procedure for Pediatric Patients with Pilonidal Disease.

Abstract Background Pilonidal disease is common amongst adolescent males and females and often leads to recurrent symptoms and life-altering morbidity. The traditional surgical approach includes wide excision of the involved area and carries a high rate of postoperative morbidity. A minimally invasive surgical approach using trephines was described by Gips in 2008 and has since been widely adopted by many surgeons. The aim of this study was to explore outcomes of the trephination procedure for pediatric and adolescent patients by evaluating postoperative wound healing and disease recurrence. Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study for patients that underwent the trephination procedure as part of standard of care for the treatment of pilonidal disease from November 1, 2019-November 1, 2020 was performed. Patient demographics, presenting characteristics, and previous treatment history were identified. Outcome measures included healing time, recurrent disease, and need for reoperation. Results A total of 19 patients underwent the trephination procedure at a mean age of 16.4 years of age. An average of 3.8 pits were excised and there were no reported intraoperative complications. Following trephination, 26.3% of patients were healed at 30-day’s, with just over 40% showing complete healing by 6-months. The recurrence rate was 16.1% at 6-months and approximately 15% of patients required a second surgery. Conclusion Early results for trephination at our institution show a high rate of healing complications and frequent reoperation. Future research is needed to establish the role of the trephination procedure in the context of defining the best practices for treating this challenging disease.
Resilience Against Bad Mouthing Attacks in Mobile Crowdsensing Systems via Cyber Deception

Mobile Crowdsensing System (MCS) applications deploy rating feedback mechanisms to help quantify the trustworthiness of published events which over time improve decision accuracy and establish user reputation. In this paper, we first show that factors such as sparseness, inherent error probabilities of rating feedback labelers, and prior knowledge of the event trust scoring models, can be used by strategic adversaries to hijack the feedback labeling mechanism itself with bad mouthing attacks. Then, we propose a randomized rating sub-sampling technique inspired from moving target defense and cyber deception to mitigate the degradation in the resulting event trust scores of truthful events. We offer a game theoretic strategy under various knowledge levels of an adversary and the MCS in regards to picking an optimal sub-sample size for bad mouthing attacks and event trust calculations respectively, by using a vehicular crowdsensing as a proof-of-concept.
Life, death, and miracles: Th17 cells in the intestine.

Th17 cells, a distinct subset of CD4 + T-helper cells, are commonly associated with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases; however, Th17 cells also possess a variety of beneficial functions as they maintain and defend mucosal barriers against pathogens and promote tissue repair. Furthermore, recent findings indicate that Th17 cells can also acquire immunosuppressive functions that protect against inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. A sentinel population of Th17 cells is localized in the intestine in the absence of pathology and, in response to infection, this population expands in number, and can also modulate its functions. This review discusses the beneficial and pathogenic roles played by Th17 cells in the intestine.
Mobile social software for the developing world

This paper discusses how the importance of social networks for performing everyday tasks in the developing world leads to new considerations of the utility of social networking software (SNS). The paper presents some results from a multi-year, multi-method study in Central Asia that tracks patterns of technology adoption and adaptation, as well as shifts in media consumption and information seeking. Our results suggest SNS is a particularly compelling approach in resource-constrained environments (broadly defined) as a way to leverage and systematize the ad hoc processes people develop to navigate their everyday lives and information ecology.
Image Reproduction of Bragg Gratings

A technique is described that precisely controls the spectral resonance wavelength of Bragg grating before they are written onto an optical fiber. The Bragg reflector filters can then be produced at any desired wavelengths.
Estimating the correctness of computer programs

Abstract Program testing will for some time remain the major means by which program designers convince themselves and others of the correctness or validity of their programs. Thus it is desirable to be able to use test results to measure the degree to which a program approaches correctness. The probability of correctness of a program can sometimes be estimated according to the success of testing. A general parameter is introduced which has the property that its value is zero for a correct program and is greater than zero for an incorrect program. Under reasonable interpretations, the parameter is related, through probability density functions, to characteristics which are observable through program testing. For instance, if the parameter is interpreted as the number of errors in a program, a related, observable characteristic is the number of errors discovered through testing. Upper bounds on the parameter value are established as a function of the value of the observed characteristic and the desired level of confidence in the result. Results are presented for cases of combinations of interpretations, observable characteristics, and probability density functions.
Inter-ethnic differences in lymphocyte sensitivity to glucocorticoids reflect variation in transcriptional response

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones widely used as pharmaceutical interventions, which act mainly by regulating gene expression levels. A large fraction of patients (~30%), especially those of African descent, show a weak response to treatment. To interrogate the contribution of variable transcriptional response to inter-ethnic differences, we measured in vitro lymphocyte GC sensitivity (LGS) and transcriptome-wide response to GCs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from African-American and European-American healthy donors. We found that transcriptional response after 8hrs treatment was significantly correlated with variation in LGS within and between populations. We found that NFKB1, a gene previously found to predict LGS within populations, was more strongly down-regulated in European-Americans on average. NFKB1 could not completely explain population differences, however, and we found an additional 177 genes with population differences in the average log2 fold change (FDR<0.05), most of which also showed a weaker transcriptional response in African-Americans. These results suggest that inter-ethnic differences in GC sensitivity reflect variation in transcriptional response at many genes, including regulators with large effects (e.g. NFKB1) and numerous other genes with smaller effects.
A rubredoxin-like mononuclear FeS4 derivative of adrenal iron-sulfur protein (adrenodoxin).

Abstract A rubredoxin-like mononuclear iron-sulfur derivative of adrenodoxin was prepared from the apoprotein and FeCl 3 in the presence of dithiothreitol. The mononuclear compound displayed optical absorption maxima at 276, 350, and 500 nm, and exhibited electron paramagnetic resonance absorption at g = 4.27 with a shoulder at g = 4.28, which can be ascribed to high spin ferric ion. From p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonate titration experiments the iron atom appears to contain approximately one g atom of iron per mole of protein. This rubredoxin-like derivative was very unstable at 22° (the half-life was approximately 10 minutes), whereas the native 2 Fe2S∗ protein is known to be quite stable. This instability is believed to be intrinsic to the polypeptide sequence of adrenodoxin.
Legendre-transform-based fast sweeping methods for static Hamilton-Jacobi equations on triangulated meshes

We propose a new sweeping algorithm which utilizes the Legendre transform of the Hamiltonian on triangulated meshes. The algorithm is a general extension of the previous proposed algorithm by Kao et al. [C.Y. Kao, S.J. Osher, Y.-H. Tsai, Fast sweeping method for static Hamilton-Jacobi equations, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 42 (2005) 2612-2632]. The algorithm yields the numerical solution at a grid point using only its one-ring neighboring grid values and is easy to implement numerically. The minimization that is related to the Legendre transform in the sweeping algorithm can either be solved analytically or numerically. The scheme is shown to be monotone and consistent. We illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of the new method with several numerical examples in two and three dimensions.
Hair growth as a late sequela in skin grafts from the groin.

Abstract Full thickness skin from the inguinal region is often used in pre-pubertal patients The donor site is convenient, primary closure is possible and scars are slights. One disadvantage has come to light in the following case: hair growth at puberty.
Polymer relationships during preparation of chitosan-alginate and poly-l-lysine-alginate nanospheres

The preparation of chitosan-alginate nanospheres is described and their properties compared to the poly-L-lysine-alginate system. The mass ratio range of sodium alginate:CaCl(2):cationic polymer (poly-L-lysine [PLL] or chitosan) to prepare nanospheres was 100:17:10. This mass ratio ensured that the calcium alginate was maintained in the pre-gel phase and sufficient cationic polymer was present to form nanospheres. At low cationic polymer concentrations, nanospheres were not formed, whereas microspheres were formed at higher concentrations. The release of entrapped methylene blue from the nanospheres was directly proportional (R(2)=0.98) to the sodium chloride concentration in the dissolution medium. The sodium ions more efficiently displace PLL compared to chitosan; hence, the mass of drug released from the chitosan-alginate nanospheres is slow for equivalent sodium ion concentration. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies determined that the primary binding affinity between calcium and alginate was 1.33 x 10(6)/mole and entropically driven, whereas, the second binding affinity was weaker (1.03 x 10(4)/mole) and driven by both enthalpy and entropy. This binding was competitively inhibited by sodium ions. Similarly, the binding of PLL to calcium alginate pre-gel was electrostatic and competitively inhibited by sodium, although, the thermodynamic parameters for this interaction could not be determined.
187Os/186Os in marine manganese nodules and the constraints on the crustal geochemistries of rhenium and osmium

During their formation, marine manganese (or more properly ferromanganese oxide) nodules include and commonly concentrate elements dissolved in seawater. This attribute makes them especially valuable recorders of the isotopic composition of elements supplied to the oceans having radiogenic isotopes, for these can be used in exploring crustal composition and evolution1–5. From measurements of 187Os/186Os ratios in marine manganese nodules and comparison with the 143Nd/144Nd ratios of the same nodules, we have calculated the Os isotopic composition and the osmium and rhenium concentrations of the weatherable portion of the continental crust, together with the proportions of ‘ultra-mafic’ and ‘granitic’ rock that constitute this crustal mass.
METHOTREXATE REGIMENS FOR CONTROL OF GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE IN DOGS WITH ALLOGENEIC MARROW GRAFTS

SUMMARYImmunosuppressive therapy with high doses of methotrexate beginning 1 day after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation was evaluated for its effectiveness in preventing or delaying the lethal graftversus-host disease in dogs. A short-term regimen of methotrexate for 6 days after transplantati
Neurosonographic features of periventricular echodensities associated with cerebral palsy in preterm infants

We studied the value of neonatal neurosonograms in preterm infants for predicting the development of cerebral palsy (CP). All infants born at less than 33 weeks of gestation who were admitted to the intensive care nursery of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital from 1982 to 1986 were serially studied with cranial ultrasound methods that rellably detect neonatal periventricular echodensities (PVE) and cysts that are 2 mm in diameter or larger. PVE were graded as mild or as moderate to severe, and cyst size was classified by widest diameter as either large (≥3 mm) or small (
Effects of lead and benzene on the developmental stability of Drosophila melanogaster.

Fluctuating asymmetry has been proposed as a general and sensitive indicator of developmental instability. Although there have been many field studies of fluctuating asymmetry in populations exposed to toxic chemicals, there have been few laboratory studies. To test the hypothesis that stress from toxic chemicals causes an increase in fluctuating asymmetry, we exposed larval Drosophila melanogaster to six concentrations of lead and benzene in their food. Lead and benzene caused neither a significant reduction in the number of emerging adult flies, nor a significant difference in the average number of sternopleural bristles. Flies exposed to lead at 10mg kg-1 and benzene at 1000 mg kg-1, however, showed increased fluctuating asymmetry of sternopleural bristles. Higher concentrations (10,000 mg kg-1) of benzene caused a transition from fluctuating asymmetry to directional asymmetry. Flies exposed to benzene at 10,000 mg kg-1 also eclosed more than a day earlier than flies exposed to it at 0–1,000 mg kg-1.
Comparison of Two Methods for Determining Broiler Processing Yield

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to compare conventional hand evisceration and yield-by-difference (YBD) methods of determining broiler processing yield. In each experiment, 192 birds from 24 pens were killed by bleeding for 2 min, scalded at 59 C for 2 min, and picked for 30 s in a rotary batch picker. Yield-by-difference was determined by removing and weighing the nonsalable portion of the carcass (inedible viscera, and nongastrointestinal waste). Conventional processing was performed by hand. Data were analyzed by pen and treatment for means and coefficient of variation. Live weight and New York dressed weights of birds processed by the two methods were not significantly (P
The simulated atmospheric response to expansion of the Arctic boreal forest biome

Over the last century, the Arctic has warmed at twice the rate of the planet as a whole. Observational evidence indicates that this rapid warming is affecting the tundra and boreal forest biomes by changing their structure and geographic distribution. A global climate model (GCM) was used to explore the atmospheric response to boreal forest expansion by applying a one-grid cell shift of the forest into tundra. This subtle shift is meant to represent the expansion that would occur this century rather than more extreme scenarios predicted by dynamic vegetation models. Results show that this shift causes an average annual warming of 0.3 °C over the region because of a reduction in the surface albedo and an increase in net radiation. A warming of ~1.0 °C occurs in spring when the forest masks the higher albedo snow-covered surface and results in snowmelt and a reduction in cloud cover. Results fail to show a larger-scale dynamical response although some warming of the lower and mid troposphere occurs in July. No changes were found in the position or strength of the Arctic frontal zone as some studies have indicated will occur with a shift in the boreal forest-tundra boundary. These findings suggest that coupled model simulations that predict larger changes in vegetation distribution are likely overemphasizing the amount of Arctic warming that will occur this century. These findings also indicate that a realistic dynamical response to subtle land cover change might not be correctly simulated by GCMs run at coarse spatial resolutions.
Dynamics of stormflow generation—A hillslope‐scale field study in east‐central Pennsylvania, USA

A4 0 mð 20 m mowed, grass hillslope adjacent to a headwater stream within a 26-ha watershed in east-central Pennsylvania, USA, was instrumented to identify and map the extent and dynamics of surface saturation (areas with the water table at the surface) and surface runoff source areas. Rainfall, stream flow and surface runoff from the hillslope were recorded at 5-min intervals from 11 August to 22 November 1998, and 13 April to 12 November 1999. The dynamics of the water table (0 to 45 cm depth from the soil surface) and the occurrence of surface runoff source areas across the hillslope were recorded using specially designed subsurface saturation and surface runoff sensors, respectively. Detailed data analyses for two rainfall events that occurred in August (57Ð7 mm in 150 min) and September (83Ð6 mm in 1265 min) 1999, illustrated the spatial and temporal dynamics of surface saturation and surface runoff source areas. Temporal data analyses showed the necessity to measure the hillslope dynamics at time intervals comparable to that of rainfall measurements. Both infiltration excess surface runoff (runoff caused when rainfall intensity exceeds soil infiltration capacity) and saturation excess surface runoff (runoff caused when soil moisture storage capacity is exceeded) source areas were recorded during these rainfall events. The August rainfall event was primarily an infiltration excess surface runoff event, whereas the September rainfall event produced both infiltration excess and saturation excess surface runoff. Occurrence and disappearance of infiltration excess surface runoff source areas during the rainfall events appeared scattered across the hillslope. Analysis of surface saturation and surface runoff data showed that not all surface saturation areas produced surface runoff that reached the stream. Emergence of subsurface flow to the surface during the post-rainfall periods appeared to be a major flow process dominating the hillslope after the August rainfall event. Copyright  2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A work-hardening rule for finite elastic-plastic deformation of metals at elevated temperatures

Abstract An extension of Prager-Ziegler's work-hardening rule for infinitesimal elastic-plastic deformation to a work-hardening rule for finite elastic-plastic deformation of polycrystalline metals at elevated temperatures is developed. Attention is given to the development to satisfy certain invariant, continuity and thermodynamic requirements.
Electron paramagnetic resonance investigations of exogenous ligand complexes of low-spin ferric chloroperoxidase: further support for endogenous thiolate ligation to the heme iron.

Previous spectroscopic studies of chloroperoxidase have provided evidence for endogenous thiolate sulfur donor ligation to the central heme iron of the enzyme. This conclusion is further supported by recent DNA sequence data which revealed the existence of a third cysteine residue (in addition to a disulfide pair detected earlier) in the protein available for coordination to the heme iron. Thus, chloroperoxidase shares many spectroscopic properties with cytochrome P-450, the only other known thiolate-ligated heme protein. Surprisingly, a previous electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study of low-spin ferric chloroperoxidase-ligand complexes (Hollenberg, P.F., Hager, L.P., Blumberg, W.E. and Peisach, J. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 4801–4807) was unable to provide clear support for the presence of a thiolate ligand, although sulfur coordination was implicated. This was, in part, because an insufficient number of complexes was examined. In this work, we have significantly expanded upon the previous EPR study by using an extensive variety of over twenty exogenous ligands including carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur donors. Crystal field analysis, using the procedure of Blumberg and Peisach, of the present data in comparison with data for analogous complexes of cytochrome P-450-CAM, thiolate-ligated heme model systems, and myoglobin, is clearly indicative of endogenous thiolate ligation for chloroperoxidase. In addition, the UV-visible absorption and EPR spectral data suggest that a carboxylate ligand is a possible candidate for the endogenous sixth ligand to the heme iron that is responsible for the reversible conversion of ferrich chloroperoxidase from high-spin to low-spin at low temperatures (
Passive smart self-repair in polymer matrix composite materials

An investigation was made into the feasibility of developing a smart polymer matrix composite which has the ability to self-repair internal microcracks due to thermo-mechanical loading. The investigation focuses on the controlled cracking of hollow repair fibers dispersed in a composite and the subsequent timed release of chemicals which results in the sealing of matrix microcracks and the rebonding of damaged interfaces. In this preliminary work, the mechanisms of chemical release from a single repair fiber embedded in a polymer matrix were investigated using experimental analyses. It was found that controlled cracking of the repair fiber and subsequent release of the repair chemicals could be achieved by applying a polymer coating to the surface of the repair fibers. Release of chemicals into cracks was observed using optical microscopy and photoelasticity. Fiber pull-out and impact tests were performed to examine the ability to rebond fibers and fill cracks, respectively.
Identification of the cis-elements required for transcriptional control of the Chinese hamster ovary APRT gene

Transcriptional regulation of the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) adenine phosphoribosyltransferase-encoding gene (APRT) was studied. The 5′ region of the CHO APRT is G+C-rich, but lacking TATA or CCAAT boxes. RNase protection assays indicate that it contains multiple transcription start points (tsp). A tsp 64 bp upstream from the translation start codon is denoted as + 1. Linker-scanning (LS) mutation analysis indicates that the −33 to + 19 region is important in regulating APRT transcription. Mutations in the −23 to −14 region abolish transcription initiated from the −23 downstream region. An unidentified protein complex binds to this region. Three Spl-binding sites are found in the APRT promoter; however, mutations of the Sp1-binding sites do not reduce APR T transcription. Mutations at two putative GCF-binding sites increase levels of transcription.
Robotic Squirrel Models

In this article, we employ robotic/mechatronic squirrel models for the study of ground squirrel/rattlesnake interaction, both in the laboratory and rugged natural environments. These robotic models are unique because they must interact with live, potentially hostile animals. Our robots are now being used for long-term this article, we employ robotic/mechatronic squirrel models for the study of ground squirrel/rattlesnake inter- action, both in the laboratory and rugged natural environments. These robotic models are unique because they must interact with live, potentially hostile animals. Our robots are now being used for long-term studies on rattlesnake behavior after squirrel encounters. Many of these studies would be difficult, if not impossible, to perform without the robotics technology.m studies on rattlesnake behavior after squirrel encounters. Many of these studies would be difficult, if not impossible, to perform without the robotics technology.
One Approach to Tracking State and Local Health Spending

Abstract: National health system reform proposals continue to emphasize states' shared responsibility for their citizens' health care. In view of this increased interest, this DataWatch examines how much state and local governments spend for health care, using primarily data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Significant discrepancies exist between these data and other sources of state and local health spending data. Nevertheless, census data are the most comprehensive source of information on state and local spending. In the 1980s the gross rate of state spending on health was exceeded only by spending on corrections; later reports indicate that health has now overtaken corrections. Health and hospital spending varies widely among states, ranging from $1.79 per $100 of personal income in New York (after federal funding and charges are subtracted) to $0.36 per $100 in Nebraska. Continued work is needed to unravel the differences between data sources and to improve the collection and use of data at the st...
Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of chlorhexidine in saliva☆

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed to determine salivary chlorhexidine concentration. Saliva sample (200 μl) was extracted into methylene chloride. Chromatographic separation was achieved with a C18 column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile—0.05 M sodium acetate and 0.005 M heptanesulfonic acid (40:60, v/v). The standard curve was linear from 0.051 to 20.48 μg/ml (r2 ≥ 0.997). Intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation were <5.5 and ≤9%, respectively. The assay is rapid, sensitive, simple, and successfully used for quantitating salivary chlorhexidine content released from a chlorhexidine-impregnated resin worn by patients.
Will I Make It on My Own? Voices and Visions of 17-Year-Old Youth in Transition

Voices and Visions of Youth in Transition, a longitudinal transformative youth-centered research study, examines the experiences and thoughts of youth as they transition out of foster care at the ages of 17, 19, and 21. Qualitative and quantitative survey inquiries were used to attain an understanding of the experiences of 198 youth in foster care who were 17 years old during the first wave of data collection. Nine critical areas related to the transition out of foster care were examined: education; employment; housing; high-risk behavior; access to health insurance; social connections with adults, family, and friends; the transition plan; transition concerns; and personal goals. The majority of youth reported the importance of resources, social support, and personal habits and skills as they prepare for the transition out of foster care. Youth also expressed concerns about being on their own without adequate support and not being able to make it on their own. This article highlights the study’s findings from the first wave of data collection and how youth in transition are meaningfully engaged and empowered throughout the research process.
LINKING CHARTER SCHOOL EMERGENCE TO URBAN REVITALIZATION AND GENTRIFICATION: A SOCIO‐SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF THREE CITIES

The link between neighborhood quality and school quality is long-standing and well established. Over the last two decades there have been several federally sponsored initiatives aimed at revitalizi...
Wheel-Terrain Contact Modeling in the ROAMS Planetary Rover Simulation

This paper describes wheel-terrain contact modeling in the ROAMS physics-based simulator for planetary surface exploration rover vehicles.
The genetics of inflammatory bowel disease

Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis are the chronic, relapsing, and remitting major forms of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affect males and females with a peak age of onset in the late teenage years to the early 30s. Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis each has a prevalence of 100 to 200 per 100,000 in Europe and North America, and they account for significant morbidity in developed countries. A large body of evidence suggests that an interplay of genetic and environmental factors leads to an overactive mucosal immune response that causes the tissue damage in IBD. This article summarizes the substantial evidence that complex genetics are involved in the pathogenesis of IBD. Progress in the dissection of these complex genetics is reviewed. The identification of Crohns disease-associated genetic variants in a gene that plays a key role in the innate immune systems ability to recognize and respond to bacterial lipopolysaccharide is highlighted as an example of how IBD genetic research can reveal basic etiologic mechanisms. Evidence that inflammatory bowel disease is heritable A large body of epidemiologic data suggests that genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of IBD. The strongest epidemiologic evidence for a genetic predisposition to IBD includes increased rates of IBD in the Ashkenazim, familial aggregation of IBD, and substantially higher concordance for IBD among monozygotic twins than dizygotic twins. Increased rates of inflammatory bowel disease in the Ashkenazim The incidence and prevalence of IBD are higher in Ashkenazi Jews than in their non-Jewish neighbors (incidence 2 to 4 fold greater, prevalence 2 to 9
The measure-theoretic aspects of entropy, Part I

Abstract Let P be a countably additive probability measure and μ be any [0, ∞]-valued countably additive measure, both on a σ-algebra U over a space ω . We define a ( P -, μ-dependent) countably additive measure H on the δ-ring U μ ={A: A∈ U and μ(A) with values in (−∞, +∞] with the property that in case ω ∈ U μ , H(ω) is the total entropy of P relative to μ. We study the Lebesque decomposition of H with respect to μ.
Stock Price Reactions to Securities Recommended in Business Week's “Inside Wall Street”

The price behavior of stocks of firms that were favorably mentioned in the “Inside Wall Street” column in Business Week are studied. These firms have been the subject of rumors or have been recommended by analysts or brokerage houses and, therefore, their mention in Business Week constitutes dissemination of secondary information. Positive, significant excess returns are observed the day prior to the publication date, the publication date, and the two days after publication. Positive, significant excess returns are observed for long-term holding periods prior to the publication date, while negative, significant excess returns are observed for the post-publication holding periods. The observations appear to be consistent with the price performance of firms that might have been subject of either rumors or recent recom-mendations by analysts or brokerage houses. The results suggest that secondary information is of value only to low transaction cost, short-term traders. Investors who buy for the longer term based on secondary information generally receive below market rates of return.
Antecedents of Successful Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided Design Implementation in Design and Construction Networks

Researchers find that the successful implementation of information systems that span organizational boundaries enhances competitive advantage. However, the process by which networks of design and construction firms implement boundary-spanning technological changes remains poorly understood. In this paper I explore the implementation of three-dimensional computer-aided design tools in 26 design and construction organizations. I analyze empirical data collected over a 7-month period to induce a set of antecedent constructs that enable the evolution from “printed sets of plans” to “virtual model” boundary objects. The findings highlight the importance of addressing regulative, technological, work, and organizational issues at the interfaces between design and construction firms when implementing boundary-spanning technological changes.
Brain derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophic factor 3 modulate neurotransmitter receptor expressions on developing spiral ganglion neurons

Cochlear spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) provide the only pathway for transmitting sound evoked activity from the hair cells to the central auditory system. Neurotrophic factor 3 (NT-3) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) released from hair cells and supporting cells exert a profound effect on SGN survival and neural firing patterns; however, it is unclear what the effects NT-3 and BDNF have on the type of neurotransmitter receptors expressed on SGN. To address this question, the whole-cell patch clamp recording technique was used to determine what effect NT-3 and BDNF had on the function and expression of glutamate, GABA and glycine receptors (GlyR) on SGN of cochlea from postnatal C57 mouse. Receptor currents induced by the agonist of each receptor were recorded from SGN cultured with or without BDNF or NT-3. NT-3 and BDNF exerted different effects. NT-3, and to a lesser extent BDNF, enhanced the expression of GABA receptors and had comparatively little effect on glutamate receptors. Absence of BDNF and NT-3 resulted in the emergence of glycine-induced currents; however, GlyR currents were absent from the short term cultured SGN. In contrast, NT-3 and BDNF suppressed GlyR expression on SGN. These results indicate that NT-3 and BDNF exert a profound effect on the types of neurotransmitter receptors expressed on postnatal SGN, results that may have important implications for neural development and plasticity.
On quantal bound state solutions and potential energy surface fitting. A comparison of the finite element, Numerov-Cooley and finite difference methods

Abstract This paper investigates several factors affecting the accuracy and efficiency of numerical determination of the bound state energy eigenvalues of the one dimensional Schrodinger equation. The efficiencies of the finite element method (FEM), the Numerov-Cooley method, and the finite difference method are compared. From this comparison, it is concluded that for potentials containing a single energy minimum, the Numerov-Cooley method is the most efficient, while for the most complex potentials the finite element method is superior due to its better numerical stability in the classically forbidden regions. The effects of various polynomial interpolation schemes on the calculated eigenvalues of potentials known only on a small number of points is examined. It is found that while higher order fits are superior to lower ones when the potential points are known accurately, they can introduce spurious information into the potential for inaccurately known points, and thus produce poor eigenvalues. Likewise, for accurately known potentials, a spline or Hermitian interpolation is better than a Lagrangian fit, but the Lagrangian functions are less susceptible to noise in a less well known case.
Amino-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide for the Diagnosis of Acute Heart Failure in Patients With Previous Obstructive Airway Disease

Study objective We evaluate results from amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) testing with or without those of clinical judgment for the evaluation of dyspneic patients with previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. Methods As a secondary analysis of previously collected observational data from a convenience sample of 599 breathless patients, 216 patients with previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma who presented to the emergency department were analyzed according to results of NT-proBNP, clinical impression, and their final diagnosis. Test performance of NT-proBNP in these patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma was examined for the group as a whole, as well as in patients with and without previous heart failure. NT-proBNP results were compared to clinician-estimated likelihood for heart failure using receiver operating curves and as a function of NT-proBNP plus clinical evaluation. The final diagnosis was determined by 2 independent cardiologists blinded to NT-proBNP using all available data from the 60-day follow-up period. Results Overall, 55 patients (25%) had acute heart failure; the median value of NT-proBNP was higher in these patients compared with those without acute heart failure (2,238 vs 178 pg/mL); use of cut points of 450 pg/mL for patients younger than 50 years and 900 pg/mL for patients 50 years or older yielded a sensitivity of 87% (95% confidence interval [CI] 72% to 93%) and a specificity of 84% (95% CI 76% to 88%). In patients without previous heart failure (n=164), median NT-proBNP levels were also higher in patients with heart failure of new onset compared with those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma exacerbation (1561 versus 168 pg/mL). High clinical suspicion for acute heart failure (probability >80%) detected only 23% of patients with new-onset heart failure, whereas 82% of these patients had elevated NT-proBNP levels. In patients who had both previous acute heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma (n=52), median NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in those with acute heart failure (4,435 pg/mL) than patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma exacerbation (536 pg/mL). In patients with acute-on-chronic heart failure, NT-proBNP levels were elevated in 91%, whereas clinical impression considered only 39% of cases as high likelihood for acute heart failure. Conclusion NT-proBNP may be a useful adjunct to standard clinical evaluation of dyspneic patients with previous obstructive airway disease.
Effect of a hypertonic solution on intestinal absorption.

1. In measuring intestinal absorption by direct intubation techniques, the error introduced by incomplete recovery of intestinal contents may be corrected by use of a nonabsorbable reference material. 2. Hypertonic solutions induce rapid transfer of fluid into the gut and greatly impair iodide absorption.
Inducing spatial clustering in MAC contention for spread spectrum ad hoc networks

This paper proposes a new principle for designing MAC protocols for spread spectrum based ad hoc networks -- inducing spatial clustering in contending transmitters/receivers. We first highlight the advantages of spread spectrum in handling quality of service (QoS) requirements, enhancing energy efficiency, and enabling spatial multiplexing of bursty traffic. Then, based on stochastic geometric models and simulation, we show how idealized contention resolution among randomly distributed nodes results in clustering of successful transmitters and receivers, in turn leading to efficient spatial reuse. This motivates the central idea of the paper which is to explicitly induce clustering among contending nodes to achieve even better spatial reuse. We propose two distributed mechanisms to realize such clustering and show substantial capacity gains over simple random access/ALOHA-like and even RTS/CTS based protocols. We examine under what regimes such gains can be achieved, and how clustering and contention resolution mechanisms should be optimized to do so. We propose the design of ad hoc networks supporting hop-by-hop relaying on different spatial scales. By allowing nodes to relay beyond the set of nearest neighbors using varying transmission ranges (scales), one can reduce the number of hops between a source and destination so as to meet end-to-end delay requirements. To that end we propose a multi-scale MAC clustering and power control mechanism to support transmissions with different ranges while achieving high spatial reuse. The considerations, analysis and simulations included in this paper suggest that the principle of inducing spatial clustering in contention has substantial promise towards achieving high spatial reuse, QoS, and energy efficiency in spread spectrum ad hoc networks.
Transoral radiofrequency treatment of snoring

Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may effectively treat snoring with acceptable patient tolerance. Study Design: A cohort of patients with unacceptable snoring underwent RFA to the soft palate between October 1997 and May 2000. Before the therapy, a family member or significant other person was interviewed to rate snoring loudness. Methods: Snoring was rated on a visual analog scale of 0 to 10 (in which 0 was no snoring and 10 was horrific snoring) before and after therapy. All patients were treated with transoral RFA administered under local anesthesia at 6-week intervals. Results: Complete data were available for 60 of the 75 treated patients. The average number of treatment sessions per patient was 1.8. These patients received an average energy of 1845 J. Overall the average snoring score was 8.9 before therapy and 3.5 after therapy. Fifty-one patients (85%) were considered to have major improvement in snoring loudness. A total of 9 patients (15%) were nonresponders. Conclusions: RFA to the soft palate is a viable option to treat socially unacceptable snoring. Inadequate response to therapy may reflect misdiagnosis or delivery of an insufficient amount of energy. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;127:235-37.)
Acetone‐Butanol‐Ethanol (ABE) Fermentation and Simultaneous Separation in a Trickle Bed Reactor

A new in situ product separation technique using gas stripping was applied to acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation in a gas-phase-continuous immobilized cell trickle bed reactor. Both numerical and experimental studies showed that glucose conversion could be improved when the inhibitory compounds were stripped by fermentation gas. Solvents were stripped preferentially from the fermentation broth, and butanol removal was as efficient as acetone removal in spite of butanol's high boiling point (117°C) because of butanol's high volatility at fermentation concentrations. Since most of the butanol was removed by gas stripping, organic acids played major roles among inhibitory products. Numerical analysis indicated that improvement of glucose conversion by gas stripping was more pronounced at higher gas flow rates, with stronger inhibition kinetics, and under vacuum conditions. Numerical calculation predicted that glucose concentrations higher than 60 g/L could be converted, but this could not be shown experimentally because of increased degeneration.
An automatic apparatus for dialysis

Abstract An apparatus is described for the automatic dialysis and reduction in volume of aqueous solutions of urine and of vegetable and fruit juices. The apparatus is automatic in action, requires little attention while in operation, and is readily constructed from material available in most laboratories.
Reduced allergy and immunoglobulin E among adults with intracranial meningioma compared to controls.

Meningioma, the most frequent tumor in the central nervous system, has few recognized risk factors. We explored the role of allergies in a population-based case-control consortium study of meningioma in five geographic areas. We also studied serum levels of a marker of atopic allergy (IgE) in a subset of study participants, a first for a study on meningioma. Participants (N = 1,065) with surgically resected, pathologically confirmed meningioma and controls (N = 634) selected via random-digit dialing were recruited and interviewed. Cases were less likely than controls to report history of physician-diagnosed allergy [odds ratio (OR) = 0.64; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.51 – 0.80]. Also, cases (N = 295) had lower total serum IgE than controls [N = 192; OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75–0.98 for each unit of Ln(IgE)]. Similar to glioma and cancers at several other sites, meningioma appears to have an inverse relationship with history of allergies and a biomarker of atopic allergy. Since some common opposing predisposition or developmental processes for allergy and meningioma may exist, further research into immune processes that can affect the incidence and natural history of meningioma is warranted.
The optimum method for reconstruction of complex lateral oromandibular-cutaneous defects.

Background. Ablation of large intraoral cancers can create extensive through-and-through defects of the lateral face, resulting in loss of external facial skin, the lateral and anterior mandible, and the lateral mouth. Repair requires reconstruction of the lips, mandible, and full-thickness cheek defects. Ideal reconstruction with vascularized composite free flaps requires adequate bone and sufficiently large, yet versatile, skin flaps capable of resurfacing extensive intraoral and external defects. Methods. A series of 12 patients with large lateral facial-mandibular defects is reviewed. All patients were treated for squamous cell carcinoma except for 1 patient with osteoblastic sarcoma of the mandible. All patients underwent primary reconstruction with various free flap techniques, including 6 scapular free flaps, 2 iliac crest free flaps, 3 free fibula flaps, and 1 radial forearm flap. Attainment of reconstructive goals, free flap survival, and complication rates were assessed. Results. All defects were successfully reconstructed in the primary setting. No flap failures occurred. One venous occlusion was successfully salvaged. No orocutaneous fistulas or postoperative hematomas were noted. Conclusion. The reconstructive options for extensive defects of the lateral face and jaw are reviewed with attention to the complex three-dimensional soft tissue requirements. The superiority of the scapular composite flap is emphasized because this single free flap provides two independent and versatile skin paddles of optimal thickness in addition to adequate bone stock.
Σ - Production in High-Energy Proton Interactions

Momentum spectra for forward ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ production on beryllium by protons of momentum $25.8 \mathrm{and} 29.4 \frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ are presented. Data for the two primary proton momenta are compared for scaling behavior in the invariant cross section. In addition, the observed single-particle momentum distributions are compared with single-particle spectra from other inclusive reactions initiated by protons.
Predicting who stays and leaves after an acquisition: a study of top managers in multinational firms

This study adds to current explanations of executive fate following a merger or acquisition by examining how executives' perceptions of merger events determine whether they stay or leave. Results indicate that executives' perceptions of the merger announcement, interactions with the acquiring firm's top managers following the merger, and long-term effects of the merger significantly influenced their decision to stay or leave. These perceptions could be used to correctly distinguish between stayers and leavers in almost 80 percent of the cases. In addition, perceptions created when the target company was acquired by a foreign multinational made it more likely that the executive would leave. This finding demonstrates that foreignness continues to be an important determinant of executive perceptions in cross-national mergers and acquisitions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.