cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sterilization of the handengine. Is it a necessity

background : The risk of interpatient infection through a dermabrasion handpiece is not known, nor is there a published standard of handpiece maintenance. objective : To investigate the possibility of transferring material through the handpiece and evaluate the methods used by dermatologists to disinfect and/or sterilize dermabrasion equipment. methods : Handengines run while immersed in fluoresceindyed alcohol were observed for fluorescence. After dermabrasion of a fluorescein-basted pig's foot the instrument was inspected. A survey of handpiece disinfection /sterilization procedures was sent to 114 members of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. results : Although material can be transmitted to the motor/handpiece through the chuck and vice versa, contamination of the instrument did not occur in a dermabrasion simulation. 58.7% of respondents sterilize the chuck and only 38.1% sterilize the motor/handpiece. conclusions S: No absolute requirement to sterilize the handengine is warranted. It is prudent however to sterilize the chuck in a steam autoclave and gas sterilize the motor/handpiece to eliminate the rare possibility of cross-contamination.
Deletion of 11q23 is a highly specific nonrandom secondary genetic abnormality of ETV6/RUNX1-rearranged childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Deletion of 11q23 is a highly specific nonrandom secondary genetic abnormality of ETV6/RUNX1 -rearranged childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Evidence for extensive Hercynian metamorphism in western Maine

40 Ar/ 39 Ar release spectrum ages for five hornblendes from two Acadian plutons in western Maine and petrologic observations for nearby metamorphic rocks are interpreted to indicate that high-grade K-feldspar + sillimanite metamorphism occurred during Carboniferous time, not Devonian time as previously believed. The metamorphism was closely associated in time with the emplacement of the Sebago batholith, 325 Ma. Petrologic data suggest that rocks as far as 30 km north of the Sebago batholith were affected. Release spectrum ages for hornblendes from the Songo pluton indicate that by 300 Ma high-grade metamorphic conditions had ended and cooling through 500 °C had occurred.
A rapid birefringence method for measuring suspended CaCO3 concentrations in seawater

Abstract The extreme birefringence of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) relative to other major components of marine particulate matter provides a basis for making optical in situ measurements of particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) in seawater. This concept was tested with a benchtop spectrophotometer equipped with a 1- and 10-cm path length sample cell and modified with linear polarizers to measure the birefringence of suspended particles. Sample suspensions containing 3–100% CaCO 3 (by weight) were prepared from calcareous marine sediment material and varying amounts of non-birefringent diatomaceous earth. The samples ranged in total suspended material from 0.003 to 249 mg l −1 and PIC from 0.03 to 1820 μmol CaCO 3 l −1 . A positive relationship was observed between birefringence and PIC, with response falling off as the total particle concentration and the relative abundance of non-CaCO 3 particles in the sample increased. Sensitivity increased linearly with optical path length, and absolute detection limits of 0.2–0.4 and 0.04–0.08 μmol CaCO 3 l −1 , respectively, were determined for path lengths of 1- and 10-cm based on the intrinsic signal noise of the modified spectrophotometer. Conventional (i.e., non-polarized) transmittance measurements were used to correct the birefringence signal for the sensitivity loss due to interference from scattering and absorption. Without further modification, this spectrophotometer-based method can be used (with a 10-cm cell) to quantify PIC in most surface ocean waters—including those influenced by coccolithophore blooms. The spectrophotometer results define performance requirements and design parameters for an in situ instrument capable of operating over the oceanic range of PIC.
An object-oriented approach to model a just-in-time production system

To produce modular and re-usable simulation models, previous studies have found out that an object oriented approach seems to be more appropriate. Various paradigms have been proposed and their results are promising. This paper illustrates how object oriented programming concept can be applied to implement a simulation model of JIT system. Another objective of this research is to implement the simulation model by visual interactive approach. The interactive interface, built in this research allows the managers to change their decisions and justify the consequence very quickly. Moreover, the program during execution can display its results in an animated manner so that users can observe and understand the process during simulation. Some illustrated operations process will be demonstrated in the paper. Computational results obtained using the JIT simulator to examine effects of different number of Kanbans or arrival time distributions are also reported. Later, this paper uses object-oriented approach to implement an animated simulation model in order to analyse the design and implementation factors of a JIT system. The results clearly show that this approach is feasible and deserves more efforts for further research.
A Class IV AVO Sand in Saudi Arabia: The Search for the Optimum Lithology and Fluid Indicator

Summary The goals of this study are to characterize and understand the elastic properties of the Z Sandstone and to determine if discrimination of pore fluids is possible in order to support the ongoing exploration drilling program. This type of analysis is quite challenging considering that the reservoir in the study area, located onshore in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, is present at depths exceeding 5,000 meters. At these depths it is unusual to have detectable amplitude variation with offset (AVO) behavior. Different log-derived attributes are analyzed to study the overall elastic behavior of the reservoir and to determine the most effective combinations of attributes to use in discriminating the hydrocarbon charged sands from the wet sands. The Z Sandstone is characterized as a Class IV AVO reservoir where the shale-sand interface has a negative reflectivity that decreases in intensity with increasing offset or angle. A simultaneous amplitude variation with angle (AVA) inversion is performed to try to detect, and map, the extent of the hydrocarbon charged sands within the study area. It was found that under certain conditions, the hydrocarbon bearing reservoir sands could be detected.
Now more than ever: Privacy and security are required (keynote)

Properly protecting information is in all our best interests, but it is a complex undertaking. The fact that regulation is often written by non-technologists, introduces additional challenges and obstacles. Moreover, those who design systems that collect, store, and maintain sensitive information have an obligation to design systems holistically within this broader context of regulatory and legal compliance. There are questions that should be asked when developing new requirements for information systems. For example, how do we build systems to handle data that must be kept secure and private when relevant regulations tie your hands? When building a system that maintains health or financial records for a large number of people, what do we need to do to protect the information against theft and abuse, keep the information private, AND at the same time, satisfy all governing privacy/security laws and restrictions? Moreover, how do we know that we’ve satisfied those laws? How do we monitor for compliance while ensuring that we’re monitoring the right things? And, how do you accomplish all this in a way that can be expressed clearly to end-users and legislators (or auditors) so they can be confident you are doing the right things? We’ve been working on technologies to make these tasks simpler, and in some senses, automatic. In this talk, I will describe some of the research that we have been conducting to address these problems.
Novel Designs for On-chip Mid-Infrared Detectors Integrated with Chalcogenide Waveguides

We present novel designs and corresponding simulation results showing a reduction in reflection for a waveguide-integrated, on-chip detector for the mid-infrared regime, using chalcogenide glass waveguides integrated with a PbTe detector.
Fixed Final Time Optimal Adaptive Control of Linear Discrete-Time Systems in Input-Output form

In this paper, the fixed final time adaptive optimal regulation of discrete-time linear systems with unknown system dynamics is addressed. First, by transforming the linear systems into the input/output form, the adaptive optimal control design depends only on the measured outputs and past inputs instead of state measurements. Next, due to the time-varying nature of finite-horizon, a novel online adaptive estimator is proposed by utilizing an online approximator to relax the requirement on the system dynamics. An additional error term corresponding to the terminal constraint is defined and minimized overtime. No policy/value iteration is performed by the novel parameter update law which is updated once a sampling interval. The proposed control design yields an online and forward-in-time solution which enjoys great practical advantages. Stability of the system is demonstrated by Lyapunov analysis while simulation results verify the effectiveness of the propose approach.
A simplified technique for closure of surgical sites following intraoral open reduction of mandibular fractures

A technique is described in which intraoral open reductions can be performed with direct access to the bony fracture sites and still achieve a tight wound closure while the patient is maintained in maxillomandibular fixation following fracture reduction.
A new class of absorption feature in Io's near-infrared spectrum.

A relatively weak IR absorption feature detected at 1200 resolving power in Io at 2.1253 microns does not correspond to any gas- or solid-phase absorption expected on the basis of previously identified Io surface constituents. The source material of the feature appears to be stable and more uniformly distributed in longitude than Io's hot spots. These characteristics imply the feature's participation in a class different from those of other Io absorption spectrum features, thereby potentially serving as a major indicator of Io's atmosphere-surface composition and interactions. Results of laboratory experiments with plausible surface ices are compared with these observations.
Linear probing: the probable largest search time grows logarithmically with the number of records

Abstract The worst-case performance of a linear probing algorithm is studied under assumption that each of m locations can contain at most one record. It is shown that the length of the longest sequence of probes needed to insert (locate) a record grows, in probability, as c−1logm if m and n, the total number of records, approach ∞ in such a way that the load factor a = n m is bounded away from 0 and 1, here c = a − 1 − log a. The argument is based on the study of the size distribution of the longest block of occupied locations.
Relational-Interdependent self-construal as a function of bulimic symptomatology.

The present study compares differences in the levels of relational-interdependent self-construal among asymptomatic, symptomatic, and bulimic participants in a natural groups' design. Asymptomatic (n = 169), symptomatic (n = 73), and bulimic (n = 21) participants completed the Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnoses (Q-EDD; L.B. Mintz, M.S. Halloran, A. Mulholland, & A.S. Paxton, 1997) and the Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal Scale (RISC; S.E. Cross, P.L. Bacon, & M.L. Morris, 2000). Contrast tests were conducted to examine group differences in relational-interdependent self-construal as a function of bulimic symptomatology. Findings indicate significantly lower levels of relational-interdependent self-construal among bulimic participants. Results imply disruptions in the interpersonal relationships of bulimic individuals are reflected at the level of the relational self. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 62: 943–951, 2006.
The coadsorption of Ne and H2 on graphite

Abstract We have measured the heat capacity of H 2 films adsorbed on graphite (Gr) plated with a monolayer of Ne, of H 2 /Gr films at monolayer completion and in the initial stages of bilayer film formation, and of monolayer, 2.5 layer, and 4.5 layer films of Ne/Gr. From the H 2 /Ne/Gr measurements we find evidence of the formation of bilayer H 2 on bare graphite, at the expense of displacing up to 80% of the Ne preplating. This is supported by an energy calculation based on a model proposed by Asada et al. A comparison between the Ne heat capacity extracted from the H 2 /Ne/Gr measurements and the measured Ne/Gr heat capacity indicates that the Ne taking the remaining graphite surface area is likely to be in the form of an ~ 5 layers thick film.
Phosphoproteins and the Dawn of Functional Phenotyping

Phosphorylation is one of the most important processes in cell signal transduction. Detection of phosphorylated proteins in cancer tissue is useful for prognosis and diagnosis, and it might be very he
Redistribution of manganese after annealing of GaAs implanted with Si+ and Se+

The redistribution of Mn in Si+ and Se+ implanted Cr‐doped semi‐insulating GaAs substrates is studied by secondary‐ion mass spectrometry as a function of implant dose, energy, and annealing temperature subsequent to annealing capless and with a SiO2 cap in a As4‐H2 atmosphere. Mn accumulates within a depth of 0.5 μm from the GaAs surface with a peak at ∼500 A from the surface for capless anneals. The Mn peak position is constant as the implant energy is varied. The role of the encapsulant in gettering Mn is described. The observed accumulation of Mn near the surface region of GaAs can cause p‐type conversion of this region as reported by Klein. A higher solid solubility (≊ 3×1018 atoms/cm3) and a higher diffusion rate of Mn than of Cr in GaAs at 900 °C are indicated by the dose study. A preliminary model for the Mn diffusion mechanism under the above conditions is proposed.
A Modular Robotic System for Ultrasound Image Acquisition

This paper reports a modular robotic system currently in development for performing intra-operative 3-D ultrasound scans. The final goal is to be able to utilize ultrasound as a guidance and imaging modality for a variety of computer integrated surgery applications by overcoming the limits it's handheld nature presents. The primary component of the system is a compact 3 DOF robot called the Translational Remote Center of Motion Robot (TRCM). This unit, which can be used standalone or as a dexterity end effector for a larger degree of freedom base robot, can perform the motions necessary to locate and perform force controlled scans of target anatomy quickly and safely. This relatively inexpensive unit, while designed with the ultrasound application in mind, also becomes a useful general purpose robot for any application in which an RCM mechanism is desired.
Making scientific applications as Web services

This article discusses the general architecture of science portal-service systems and illustrates with a simple example how you could build a constituent service out of a particular application. To make the presentation concrete, we develop a simple wrapper application for a code, Disloc (authored by A. Donnellan of the NASA jet Propulsion Laboratory), which is used in earthquake simulation to calculate surface displacements of observation stations for a given underground fault. Disloc's fast calculation is a particularly useful characteristic because we can provide it as an anonymous service and not have to worry about computer accounts, allocations, and scheduling.
DNA repair in Chinese hamster cells of different sensitivities to ultra-violet light.

SummaryAn altered Chinese hamster cell-line, V7979, derived from line V79 by irradiation with 1500 R of x-rays, is more sensitive than the parent to killing by ultra-violet (u.v.) light (V79, n = 1·6, D0 = 43 erg/mm2; V7979, n = 1·3, D0 = 30 erg/mm2). U.V. light inhibits DNA synthesis to the same extent in both cell-lines up to 11 hours after irradiation. Both cell-lines perform unscheduled synthesis, but the V7979 performs less than the V79. The amount of unscheduled synthesis is thus correlated with survival in these two closely related cell-lines. Unscheduled synthesis may therefore represent DNA repair which contributes to the recovery of u.v.-damaged cells.
THE IMPACT OF INDIAN OCEAN SST ON THE LARGE-SCALE ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON AND THE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

Relationships among the large-scale hydrological cycle, Asian summer monsoon and Indian Ocean sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies are investigated in a series of numerical experiments. Ensembles of integrations with the National Center for Atmospheric Research community climate model, CCM 1, focusing on the summer months (June, July, and August) provide the basic information for analysis. Impacts of SST anomalies in the southern Indian Ocean are evaluated by intercomparison of experiments with and without these anomalies. Systematic changes in the hydrological cycle and monsoon circulation are demonstrated and summarized in the context of a three-dimensional framework consisting of the basic elements of the Asian summer monsoon system. In the negative SST anomaly case, both the hydrological cycle and circulation processes are enhanced by virtue of their close relationship and especially the inherent coupling between the large-scale water vapour transport and the low-level monsoon flow. The overall intensity of the broad-scale monsoon, in this case, is enhanced. In the positive SST anomaly case, the model response is essentially opposite to that of the negative case and the intensity of the broad-scale monsoon is reduced. These enhanced/weakened monsoon scenarios share many similar features to observed interannual variations of the Asian summer monsoon.
NO•, CO and •OH Endogenous soluble guanylyl cyclase‐activating factors

Several low molecular weight compounds are capable of activating soluble guanylyl cyclase. Recent evidence suggests that some of these are formed under physiological conditions: the nitric oxide radical, carbon monoxide and the hydroxyl radical. Thus, multiple signal transduction pathways appear to exist that form a family of guanylyl cyclase activating factors and thereby regulate the intracellular cyclic guanosine 3′, 5′-monophosphate level.
Surface‐enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Trace Identification of Controlled Substances: Morphine, Codeine, and Hydrocodone

We obtain the normal Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectrum of three controlled substances: morphine, codeine, and hydrocodone. The spectra are assigned with the aid of density functional theory. Because of rather intense fluorescence, normal Raman spectra suffer from poor signal-to-noise, even when differential subtraction techniques are employed. On the other hand, surface enhancement by Ag nanoparticles both enhances the Raman signal and suppresses the fluorescence, enabling far more sensitive detection and identification. We also present a set of discriminant bands, useful for distinguishing the three compounds, despite the similarities in their structures.
Effects of external pH on binding of external sulfate, 4.4-dinitro-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS), and chloride to the band 3 anion exchange protein.

A model in which two positively-charged titratable sites enhance the affinity for anionic substrates can explain the increase in external iodide dissociation constant (K(O)(I)) with increasing pH(O) (Liu, S. J., F.-Y. Law, and P.A. Knauf. 1996.f Gen.Physiol. 107:271-291). If sulfate binds to the same external site as I-, this model predicts that the SO(4)= dissociation constant (K(O)(S)) should also increase. The data at pH 0 8.5 to 10 fit this prediction, and the pK for the titration is not significantly different from that (pKc) for the low-pK group that affects K(O)(1). The dissociation constant for the apparently competitive inhibitor, DNDS (4,4-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate), also increases greatly as pH(O) increases. Particularly at high pH(O), a noncompetitive inhibition by DNDS is also evident. Increasing pH(O) from 7.2 to 11.2 increases the competitive dissociation constant by 700-fold, but the noncompetitive is only increased 20-fold. The pK values for these effects are similar to pKc for K(O)(1), as expected if DNDS binds near the external transport site, but it seems likely that additional titratable groups also affect DNDS binding. The apparent affinity for external Cl- is also affected by pH(O), in a manner similar to that observed for I-. Pretreatment with the amino-selective reagent, bis-sulfosuccinimidyl suberate (BSSS), decreases the apparent Cl- affinity at pH 8.5, but two titrations are still evident, the first (lower) of which decreases the apparent C- affinity, and the second of which surprisingly increases it. Thus, the BSSS-reactive amino groups (probably Lys-539 and Lys-851) do not seem to be involved in the titrations that affect Cl- affinity. In general, the data support the concept that a positively charged amino group (or groups), together with a guanidino group, plays an important role in the binding of substrates and inhibitors at or near the external transport site.
Hardware assisted resource sharing platform for personal cloud

More and more novel usage models require the capability of resource sharing among different platforms. To achieve a satisfactory efficiency, we introduce a specific resource sharing technology under which IO peripherals can be shared among different platforms. In particular, in a personal working environment that is built up by a number of devices, IO peripherals at each device can be applied to support application running at another device. This IO sharing is our so-called composable IO because it is equivalent to compose IOs from different devices for an application. We design composable IO logic and achieve pro-migration PCIe devices access, namely a migrated application running at the targeted host can still access the PCIe peripherals at the source host. This is supplementary to traditional VM migration under which application can only use resources from the device where the application runs. Experimental results show that through composable IO logic, applications with remote IO can achieve high efficiency compared with native IO.
Functional timing analysis using ATPG

Paths that are never exercised are referred to as false paths and timing analysis that ignores the delay contribution of these paths is referred to as functional timing analysis. Such timing analysis provides a more accurate estimate of circuit delay compared to conventional static timing analysis. We show how unmodified conventional Automatic Test Pattern Generators (ATPG) for stuck-at faults can be used for functional timing analysis without sacrificing computational efficiency in comparison with existing approaches to the same problem. This is a significant result since it enables us to use the entire body of work in ATPG for this problem and relieves us from re-inventing new solutions for this problem. The basic algorithm can be used under an arbitrary delay model. We provide delay computation results for all the ISCAS benchmark examples under the unit-delay and the mapped-delay models. >
Highly Diverse Protein Library Based on the Ubiquitous (β/α)8 Enzyme Fold Yields Well‐Structured Proteins through in Vitro Folding Selection

Proper protein folding is a prerequisite for protein stability and enzymatic activity. Although directed evolution can be a powerful tool to investigate enzymatic function and to isolate novel activities, well-designed libraries of folded proteins are essential. In vitro selection methods are particularly capable of searching for enzymatic activities in libraries of trillions of protein variants, yet high-quality libraries of well-folded enzymes with such high diversity are lacking. We describe the construction and detailed characterization of a folding-enriched protein library based on the ubiquitous (β/α)8 barrel fold, which is found in five of the six enzyme classes. We introduced seven randomized loops on the catalytic face of the monomeric, thermostable (β/α)8 barrel of glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GDPD) from Thermotoga maritima. We employed in vitro folding selection based on protease digestion to enrich intermediate libraries containing three to four randomized loops for folded variants, and then combined them to assemble the final library (1014 DNA sequences). The resulting library was analyzed by using the in vitro protease assay and an in vivo GFP-folding assay; it contains ∼1012 soluble monomeric protein variants. We isolated six library members and demonstrated that these proteins are soluble, monomeric and show (β/α)8-barrel fold-like secondary and tertiary structure. The quality of the folding-enriched library improved up to 50-fold compared to a control library that was assembled without the folding selection. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first example of combining the ultra-high throughput mRNA display method with selection for folding. The resulting (β/α)8 barrel libraries provide a valuable starting point to study the unique catalytic capabilities of the (β/α)8 fold, and to isolate novel enzymes.
Associations among heat shock protein 70 genotype, forage system, and horn-fly infestation of beef cattle

The objective of this experiment was to determine the relationships among cattle breed, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) genotype, and horn-fly density. Angus (n = 20), Brahman (n = 17), and reciprocal cross (n = 31) spring-born cows were assigned to 1 of 2 permanent forage types: wild-type endophyte-infected tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Shreb.)] or common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers]. Individual fly density was determined weekly at a distance of 5 to 10 m from May to October. Genomic DNA was prepared from buffy coat and purified. Specific forward and reverse PCR primers were used to produce Hsp70 amplicons of the coding (G2033C) and promoter (C895D and G1128T) regions. Each amplicon was sequenced, and genotypes were assigned to each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) site. Horn-fly density was affected (P < 0.0001) through a forage type-by-month interaction. In September, cattle grazing tall fescue had fewer flies (P < 0.05) than did cattle grazing bermudagrass. Heterozygous cows at the coding sequence SNP G2033C had more (P < 0.07) flies than did homozygous cows. Comparatively, cows heterozygous for either of the 2 promoter region SNP tended to have greater (P < 0.10) fly density than did those homozygous. Use of Hsp70 genotyping in combination with forage could be useful in identifying production systems that decrease horn-fly infestation.
P02.156. Effects of a gentle yoga program on Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) symptoms and related outcomes in women with RLS: a pilot study

Purpose RLS is a common sleep disorder that negatively affects health, well-being, and quality of life. Although standard drug treatments for RLS can carry serious side effects, promising nonpharmacologic therapies, while widely recommended, remain little investigated. In this pilot pre-post trial, we assessed the effects of a gentle 8-week yoga program on RLS symptoms and related outcomes in women with RLS.
Perception of Pregnancy and Social Support as Predictors of Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy

Although an association between alcohol consumption during pregnancy and adverse fetal outcomes has been well documented, variables related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy have remained neglected. Since pregnancy has been considered a time of crisis and stress for pregnant women, this study sought to determine the association of perceptions of pregnancy and social support to alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The 311 Southern metropolitan prenatal patients sampled were interviewed twice during pregnancy. Perception of pregnancy was not found to be correlated with either social support or alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Social support was significantly associated with decreased alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Using standard multiple regressions, two components of social support, general support and pregnancy support, were found to be working in opposite directions prior to pregnancy, with general support showing a positive association with alcohol consumption. Only pregnancy support continued to account for a significant amount of the variance in alcohol consumption during the first 4 months of pregnancy. Pregnancy support, additionally, showed a significant negative association with high maximum drinking (consuming five or more drinks on occasion) prior to pregnancy. These findings suggest that social support may be an important predictor of alcohol consumption both prior to and during pregnancy and merits further investigation.
Estimated dietary phytoestrogen intake and major food sources among women during the year before pregnancy

Background: Phytoestrogens may be associated with a variety of different health outcomes, including outcomes related to reproductive health. Recently published data on phytoestrogen content of a wide range of foods provide an opportunity to improve estimation of dietary phytoestrogen intake. Methods: Using the recently published data, we estimated intake among a representative sample of 6,584 women of reproductive age from a multi-site, population-based case-control study, the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS). The NBDPS uses a shortened version of the Willett food frequency questionnaire to estimate dietary intake during the year before pregnancy. We estimated intake among NBDPS control mothers. Results: Lignans contributed 65% of total phytoestrogen intake; isoflavones, 29%; and coumestrol, 5%. Top contributors to total phytoestrogen intake were vegetables (31%) and fruit (29%); for isoflavones, dairy (33%) and fruit (21%); for lignans, vegetables (40%) and fruit (29%); and for coumestans, fruit (55%) and dairy (18%). Hispanic women had higher phytoestrogen intake than non-Hispanic white or black women. Associations with maternal age and folic acid-containing supplements were more modest but indicated that older mothers and mothers taking supplements had higher intake. Conclusions: The advantage of the approach used for the current analysis lies in its utilization of phytoestrogen values derived from a single laboratory that used state-of-the-art measurement techniques. The database we developed can be applied directly to other studies using food frequency questionnaires, especially the Willett questionnaire. The database, combined with consistent dietary intake assessment, provides an opportunity to improve our ability to understand potential associations of phytoestrogen intake with health outcomes.
Enterprise Zones and Job Creation: Linking Evaluation and Practice:

Although enterprise zones have been a popular economic development tool for several years, there is still a lack of evidence on both zone effectiveness and how to improve existing zone programs. This article discusses several evaluation criteria that should be given more attention. First, the article addresses methodological issues in assessing zone benefits, including the importance of comparing places that received zones with a suitably chosen control group of places that did not get zones. Second, the data requirements for enterprise zone evaluation are examined. The link between evaluation and practice is discussed. Zone evaluations must address not only efficiency criteria such as the measurement of benefits and costs but also the question of how to improve the functioning of existing zones. The conclusion is that zone evaluations should pay closer attention to research methodology and strive to document program implementation information that can improve the practice of enterprise zones.
MINIMAL DISTORTION PROBLEMS FOR CLASSES OF UNITARY MATRICES

Given two chains of subspaces in C n , the set of those unitary matrices is studied that map the subspaces in the first chain onto the corresponding subspaces in the second chain, and minimize the valueU − Infor various unitarily invariant norms �·� on C n×n .I n particu lar, a formula for the minimum valueU − Inis given, and the set of all the unitary matrices in the set attaining the minimum is described, for the Frobenius norm. For other unitarily invariant norms, the results are obtained if the subspaces have special structure. Several related matrix minimization problems are also considered.
Partisan Financial Cycles

Financial cycles of boom and bust are as old as finance itself—a fact that has led some observers to infer that human nature may be a fundamental cause of financial cycles. But "politics" also influences financial cycles by way of government policies and regulations. I argue that policies and regulations vary predictably with the partisan character of the government, creating a partisan-policy financial cycle in which conservative, pro-market governments preside over financial booms while left-wing governments are elected to office after crashes. My sample consists of all bank-centered financial crises to hit advanced countries since World War II, including the current "Subprime" crises—a total of 27 cases. I find that governments in power prior to major financial crises are more likely than the average OECD country to be right-of-center in political orientation. I also find that these governments are more likely than the OECD average to be associated with policies that predict crises: large fiscal and current account deficits, heavy borrowing from abroad, and lax bank regulation. However, once a major financial crisis occurs, the causal arrow flips and government partisanship becomes a consequence of crises. I find that the electorate moves to the left after a major financial crisis, and this leftward shift is associated with changes in government partisanship in that direction.
Effects of a Music Therapy Group Intervention on Enhancing Social Skills in Children with Autism

Background Research indicates that music therapy can improve social behaviors and joint attention in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); however, more research on the use of music therapy interventions for social skills is needed to determine the impact of group music therapy. Objective To examine the effects of a music therapy group intervention on eye gaze, joint attention, and communication in children with ASD. Method Seventeen children, ages 6 to 9, with a diagnosis of ASD were randomly assigned to the music therapy group (MTG) or the no-music social skills group (SSG). Children participated in ten 50-minute group sessions over a period of 5 weeks. All group sessions were designed to target social skills. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), and video analysis of sessions were used to evaluate changes in social behavior. Results There were significant between-group differences for joint attention with peers and eye gaze towards persons, with participants in the MTG demonstrating greater gains. There were no significant between-group differences for initiation of communication, response to communication, or social withdraw/behaviors. There was a significant interaction between time and group for SRS scores, with improvements for the MTG but not the SSG. Scores on the ATEC did not differ over time between the MTG and SSG. Conclusions The results of this study support further research on the use of music therapy group interventions for social skills in children with ASD. Statistical results demonstrate initial support for the use of music therapy social groups to develop joint attention.
Black–white differences in avoidable mortality in the USA, 1980–2005

Background: Avoidable Mortality (AM) describes causes of death that should not occur in the presence of high-quality and timely medical treatment and from causes that can be influenced at least in part by public policy/behaviour. This study analyses black–white disparities in AM. Methods: Mortality under age 65 was analysed from: (1) conditions amenable to medical care; (2) those sensitive to public policy and/or behaviour change; (3) ischaemic heart disease; (4) HIV/AIDS; and (5) the remaining causes of death. Age-standardised death rates (ASDRs) were constructed for each race and sex group using vital statistics and census data from 1980–2005. Absolute rate differences and the proportionate contribution of each cause of death group to all-cause black–white mortality disparities are calculated based on the ASDRs. Negative binomial regression was used to model relative risks of death. Results: In 2005, medical care amenable mortality was the largest source of absolute black–white mortality disparity, contributing 30% of the black–white difference in all-cause mortality among men and 42% among women; mortality subject to policy/behaviour interventions contributed 20% of the black–white difference for men and 4% for women. Although absolute black–white differences for most conditions diminished over time, relative disparities as measured by rate ratios showed little change, except for HIV/AIDS for which relative risks increased substantially for black men and women. Conclusions: There is considerable potential for narrowing of the black–white difference in AM, especially from causes amenable to medical care and (for men) policy/behaviour interventions.
Effect of element mutual coupling on the capacity of fixed length linear arrays

The effect of element mutual coupling on the capacity of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems is demonstrated by considering a fixed-length linear array of half-wave dipoles. Mutual coupling between elements, which influences both the spatial correlation and the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), is taken into account by means of the impedance matrix. Monte Carlo simulations are performed for both single-sided (i.e., transmitting end or receiving end) and double-sided fading correlations. It is shown that mutual coupling results in substantially lower capacity and, hence, in reduced degrees of freedom.
Wind shear effects on cloud‐radiation feedback in the western Pacific warm pool

[1] Upper tropospheric stratiform clouds associated with deep convection are important to global radiation budgets and to cloud-radiation feedbacks on climate variability and change. Several recent observational studies indicate that vertical wind shear is an important factor affecting stratiform cloud fraction and cloud overlap. This study further examines wind shear effects on cloud properties (including cloud fraction and cloud optical depth) and associated top of atmosphere (TOA) and surface radiative fluxes, using observations from the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere program's Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) experiment and long-term satellite measurements. Wind shear affects cloud-radiative fluxes, through both the cloud fraction and optical thickness, in a strong and systematic way. In typical convecting conditions, shear-induced additional cloudiness can reduce outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) by 10s of Wm−2, implying longwave radiative changes on the order of 10% of the total latent heating. Such cloud also reflects shortwave radiation, reducing surface downward flux (energy input to the ocean) by 10s of Wm−2. Current climate models lack these effects.
Is Diabetic Nerve Pain Caused by Dysregulated Ion Channels in Sensory Neurons

In diabetes, a common and debilitating chronic disease, peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is the most frequent complication, occurring in about two-thirds of the patients (1,2). At least one-third of patients with diabetes experience painful symptoms including hyperalgesia and/or allodynia as well as spontaneous pain in the form of burning or tingling, despite the degeneration of peripheral nerves (3). Eventually, these painful symptoms usually subside as the disabling pain is replaced by the complete loss of sensation. Both intractable pain and loss of sensation have significant adverse effects on quality-of-life measures. Unfortunately, current treatment options are unable to reverse these symptoms. Pain-sensing sensory neurons, or nociceptors, can be sensitized (become hyperexcitable) by various mechanisms in response to the pathological conditions or peripheral tissue injury associated with diabetes. Multiple pathogenic mechanisms, such as the formation of intracellular advanced glycation end products, inflammatory cytokines, increased aldose reductase activity, and oxidative stress, may contribute to the impaired function of sensory neurons in animals with PDN. However, multiple preclinical and clinical studies that aimed to target several of these mechanisms while simultaneously ensuring proper blood glucose control were unable to provide definite and complete pain relief (1,2). Importantly, currently available therapies are only partially effective and are often associated with serious side effects. For example, CaV2.2 channels (N-type) and their regulatory subunit α2δ are considered a major cellular target for the anticonvulsants gabapentin and pregabalin, which are commonly used to relieve diabetes-induced pain in humans …
Dielectric and Electrical Properties of BaTiO3 Composites

In this investigation composites of unconsolidated BaTiO3 powder (≥ 99.9% purity, ≤ 0.1 µm crystallite size) or partially-sintered BaTiO3 with either air or polymer were studied. The purpose of this study was to measure the dielectric and electrical properties of the composites, and to determine how well these properties fit existing theories concerning fine-grained permittivity and dielectric mixing rules.
Interfirm Structure and Buyer-Salesperson Behavior Impact on Relationship Outcomes

The individual level interaction between the buyer and salesperson can best be understood in the broader framework provided by the inter-firm relationship. Very little research has been conducted that examines both firm level and interpersonal level constructs in the context of business relationships. The primary purpose of this study is to design and test a theoretical model that examines the effect of inter-firm structure and buyer-salesperson behaviors on relationship outcomes. The results suggest that in established relationships, the external environment plays a role in determining the how buyer-seller firms structure their relationships. The way in which the relationship is structured plays an important role in determining how the buyer and salesperson interact. Both inter-firm structure and buyer-salesperson behaviors, in turn, influence buyer satisfaction.
Age of Host and Capacity of Equine Encephalomyelitic Viruses to Invade the CNS

ConclusionsStudies of the conditions which permit or prevent the viruses of vesicular stomatitis and equine encephalomyelitis to invade the CNS of mice and guinea pigs have thus far disclosed that depending upon the age or species of the host there may be changes or variations in localized sites, e.g., in terminal, specialized nerve endings, in special areas of the CNS, blood vessels, etc., which can prevent the virus from invading or progressing in the CNS—changes in different tissues functioning as barriers for different viruses depending upon the mode of CNS invasion utilized by the virus.
Effect of Digitalization on the Coagulation Time in Man

SummaryWhole blood coagulation times were determined before and during oral digitalis therapy of 10 patients. No significant alteration of coagulability as so measured was observed
A Cross-linguistic Comparison of Copular Predication: Some Basic Assumptions Revisited

This paper explores the syntax of copular predication within and across the varieties of Cape Verdean Creole bringing new insights about the morpho-syntactic properties of the copula with respect to functional and lexical categories. The behavior of the copula will be shown to reflect both superstratal, substratal and universal influences present in other languages. Furthermore, the study of copular predicates in which the copula is absent will reveal the specific underlying conditions in which such type of predicates occurs. A cursory typological study of semi-creoles such as AAVE and other non-creole languages will show that the same underlying conditions are present in a number of other world languages. Finally, a theoretical analysis will account for two types of copular predicates in Cape Verdean Creole: the first part highlights the distributional properties of the Cape Verdean copula within and across varieties. The second part illustrates copulaless predicates and the conditions under which they occur.
Numerical Simulation of Neutron Logging Source Spacing Selection

Source spacing is one of the key parameters of neutron logging tool, by which permeability precision, sensitivity, resolution of the logging tool are determined to a large extent. Numerical simulation method is used to calculate the thermal neutron and epithermal neutron detector responses of different source spacing in 3 dimensional eccentric neutron logging . Porosity-ratio response curves are obtained. Porosity, sensitivity, resolution and lithologic influence of different source spacing combinations are analyzed. The result and method denoted provide basis for selecting neutron logging source spacing.
Identification of a small-molecule ligand that activates the neuropeptide receptor GPR171 and increases food intake

Several neuropeptide systems in the hypothalamus, including neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein (AgRP), control food intake. Peptides derived from proSAAS, a precursor implicated in the regulation of body weight, also control food intake. GPR171 is a heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor (GPCR) for BigLEN (b-LEN), a peptide derived from proSAAS. To facilitate studies exploring the physiological role of GPR171, we sought to identify small-molecule ligands for this receptor by performing a virtual screen of a compound library for interaction with a homology model of GPR171. We identified MS0015203 as an agonist of GPR171 and demonstrated the selectivity of MS0015203 for GPR171 by testing the binding of this compound to 80 other membrane proteins, including family A GPCRs. Reducing the expression of GPR171 by shRNA (short hairpin RNA)-mediated knockdown blunted the cellular and tissue response to MS0015203. Peripheral injection of MS0015203 into mice increased food intake and body weight, and these responses were significantly attenuated in mice with decreased expression of GPR171 in the hypothalamus. Together, these results suggest that MS0015203 is a useful tool to probe the pharmacological and functional properties of GPR171 and that ligands targeting GPR171 may eventually lead to therapeutics for food-related disorders.
Influence of vasoconstrictor systems on leg vasodilation during heating of dehydrated baboons.

This study, carried out in two parts, sought to determine the importance of vasopressin (VP), the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), and the sympathetic nervous system in the dehydration-produced atte...