cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exact Solutions for Transverse Vibrations of Beams and Plates of Parabolic Thickness Variation

This paper presents the class of nonuniform beams and nonuniform axisymmetrical circular plates whose boundary value problems of free transverse vibrations and free transverse axisymmetrical vibrations, respectively, have been identified to be eigenvalue singular problems of orthogonal polynomials. Recent published results regarding a fourth order differential equation and eigenvalue singular problem of classical orthogonal polynomials allowed this study, which extends the class of nonuniform beams and circular nonuniform plates having exact solutions for the problem of free transverse vibrations. The geometry of the elements belonging to the class presented in this paper consists of beams convex parabolic thickness variation and polynomial width variation with the axial coordinate, and plates of convex parabolic thickness variation with the radius. Two boundary value problems of transverse vibrations of beams are reported: 1) complete beam (sharp at either end) with free-free boundary conditions, and 2) half-beam, i.e. a half of the symmetric complete beam, with the large end hinged and sharp end free. The boundary value problem of circular complete plate (zero thickness at zero and outer radii) with free-free boundary conditions has been also reported. For all these boundary value problems the exact mode shapes were Jacobi polynomials and the exact dimensionless natural frequencies were found from the eigenvalues of the eigenvalue singular problems of orthogonal polynomials.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Treatment of late‐onset OCD following basal ganglia infarct

Current consensus on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) includes cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in the form of exposure and response prevention (ERP). However, the generalizability of these methods to elderly populations remains largely undocumented. This clinical case study examines the effectiveness of medications and intensive, inpatient ERP in an elderly patient with onset of OCD following basal ganglia infarcts. There was a dramatic reduction from baseline to follow-up in both obsessions and compulsions with Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale [YBOCS; Goodman et al., 1989] total scores decreasing by over 20 points. These gains were maintained up to 1 year post-treatment. Age-specific issues and the application of standard therapeutic methods to elderly clients are discussed.
Young-Derived Sequences of Sn-Characters

Abstract Given the sequence ψ = {ψ n is an S n character} n ≥0 , we construct the Young-derived sequence y (ψ) = { y n (ψ)} n ≥ 0 : y n (ψ) = ∑ n j=0 ψ j o χ (n − j) . Cocharacters of P.I. algebras are always Young-derived (V. Drensky, J. Algebra 91 (1984), 1-17). We study the relations between ψ and y (ψ), and between deg ψ n and deg( y n (ψ)), when ψ is supported on a strip. Their asymptotics, as n → ∞, lead to some interesting integration formulas.
Trapping effects in gas-solid scattering

Abstract The classical mechanical model of Logan and Stickney for gas-solid scattering is extended to include the effect of trapping on the angular distribution of gas particles scattered from solid surfaces. The theoretical analysis indicates that trapping is important for gas-solid potential well depths as low as 1.5 kcal/mole. The effect of trapping on the scattering distribution increases with increasing well depth, decreasing solid temperature and increasing ratio of the mass of the gas to the surface atoms. The theoretical results are compared to the data of Smith and Saltsburg of scattering of Ne, CH4 and NH3 from Ag.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of trans-3-phenyl-1-indanamines as potential norepinephrine transporter imaging agents

The development of radioligands suitable for studying the central nervous system (CNS) norepinephrine transporter (NET) in vivo will provide important new tools for examining the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders including major depression. Towards this end, a series of trans-3-phenyl-1-indanamine derivatives were prepared and evaluated in vitro. The biological properties of the most promising compound, [(11)C]3-BrPA, were investigated in rat biodistribution and nonhuman primate PET studies. Despite high in vitro affinity for the human NET, the uptake of [(11)C]3-BrPA in the brain and the heart was not displaceable with pharmacological doses of NET antagonists.
Errata to “Vector measures and the strong operator topology”

Typographical errors which changed important definitions in the paper "Vector measures and the strong operator topology" (Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 137 (2009), 2345―2350) are addressed.
Incorporating ACR Practice Guidelines, Technical Standards, and Appropriateness Criteria into Resident Education

The ACR’s Practice Guidelines, Technical Standards, and Appropriateness Criteria are useful tools in resident education. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is increasing its focus on assessing educational outcomes in resident education to ensure that graduating residents have achieved competence to the level expected of new practitioners. The Appropriateness Criteria can be used to educate residents in cost-effective imaging practice, while the Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards are useful tools for educating residents in patient care. Incorporating these ACR resources into the resident curriculum and the goals and objectives of the training program provides a means of addressing the new ACGME requirements.
Age differences in survival outcomes and resource use for chronically critically ill patients

Abstract Purpose Chronically critically ill (CCI) patients use a disproportionate amount of resources, yet little research has examined outcomes for older CCI patients. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes (mortality, disposition, posthospital resource use) between older (≥65 years) and middle-aged (45-64 years) patients who require more than 96 hours of mechanical ventilation while in the intensive care unit. Methods Data from 2 prospective studies were combined for the present examination. In-hospital as well as posthospital discharge data were obtained via chart abstraction and interviews. Results One thousand one hundred twenty-one subjects were enrolled; 62.4% (n = 700) were older. Older subjects had a 1.3 greater risk for overall mortality (from admission to 4 months posthospital discharge) than middle-aged subjects. The Acute Physiology Score (odds ratio [OR], 1.009), presence of diabetes (OR, 2.37), mechanical ventilation at discharge (OR, 3.17), and being older (OR, 2.20) were statistically significant predictors of death at 4 months postdischarge. Older subjects had significantly higher charges for home care services, although they spent less time at home (mean, 22.1 days) than middle-aged subjects (mean, 31.3 days) (P = .03). Conclusion Older subjects were at higher risk of overall mortality and used, on average, more postdischarge services per patient when compared with middle-aged subjects.
Comparison of technetium-99m tetrofosmin and thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging for detection of myocardial perfusion defects in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract Objectives. We compared dipyridamole technetium-99m (Tc-99m) tetrofosmin and thallium-201 (Tl-201) single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging with respect to the detection rate of perfusion abnormalities in 26 patients with angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD). Background. Experimental studies have shown that myocardial extraction of Tc-99m tetrofosmin is lower than that of Tl-201 at high flow rates, resulting in less severe defects with vasodilator stress. It is uncertain whether this results in a lower sensitivity than Tl-201 for detecting coronary stenoses with vasodilator stress in patients. Methods. Twenty-six patients with CAD underwent both dipyridamole Tl-201 and Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT. Tomographic images were scored for initial defects and the presence of reversibility. Defect magnitude was computer quantitated. Results. Of the 26 patients, 25 had defects on both Tl-201 and Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT images. Of 340 segments analyzed, 102 had defects by Tl-201 and 92 by Tc-99m tetrofosmin (p = NS). Whereas Tl-201 detected 27 fixed defects in 12 patients, Tc-99m tetrofosmin identified 37 fixed defects in 14 patients (p = NS). In contrast, Tl-201 identified more reversible and partially reversible defects than did Tc-99m tetrofosmin (89 vs. 55, p = 0.002). The average defect magnitude (percent normal) was similar for defects concordantly graded as fixed (38 ± 3.0% for Tl-201 vs. 42 ± 4% [mean ± SEM] for Tc-99m tetrofosmin, p = NS). The average defect magnitude for defects concordantly graded as completely reversible was significantly more severe on Tl-201 than on Tc-99m tetrofosmin (49 ± 3% vs. 58 ± 3%) SPECT images. A significantly greater defect magnitude for Tl-201 was also found for defects concordantly classified as partly reversible (30 ± 4% for Tl-201 vs. 45 ± 5% for Tc-99m tetrofosmin). Conclusions. With dipyridamole stress, 1) at least one defect was seen on both Tl-201 and Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT images; 2) Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT identified fewer reversible defects than did Tl-201, but showed a similar number of fixed defects; 3) the magnitude of reversible defects seen on Tc-99m tetrofosmin images was less, whereas fixed defects were similar for both tracers; 4) reversible defects seen on Tl-201 and not on Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT images were predominantly regions perfused by mild coronary stenoses.
The Kinetics of Limestone/Dolomite with H2S Under Rich Combustion Conditions

Abstract The kinetics of the reaction of limestone/dolomite with H2S have been examined under fuel rich combustion conditions. The experiments were done in a tubular laminar flow reactor with co-current flow of gas and solids. In the temperature region, 1065-1310°C, the results were consistent with the absorption reaction of H2S first order with respect to calcium and half order with respect to H2S. Reactivity of the stones fell off substantially between 1065-1310°C because of severe desurfacing occurring at these temperatures to the limestone and dolomite. A diffusion controlled reaction is believed to be the dominant mechanism.
Marine actinomycete diversity and natural product discovery

Microbial natural products remain an important resource for drug discovery yet the microorganisms inhabiting the world's oceans have largely been overlooked in this regard. The recent discovery of novel secondary metabolites from taxonomically unique populations of marine actinomycetes suggests that these bacteria add an important new dimension to microbial natural product research. Continued efforts to characterize marine actinomycete diversity and how adaptations to the marine environment affect secondary metabolite production will create a better understanding of the potential utility of these bacteria as a source of useful products for biotechnology.
Acetaminophen Overuse in the Ohio Medicaid Population

Abstract Objective To examine patterns of use of acetaminophen in patients with and without risk factors for hepatotoxicity in the Ohio Medicaid population. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of claims data. Setting Ohio. Patients Ohio Medicaid patients (n=22,496) who received at least 6 prescriptions for acetaminophen from November 1998 through April 1999. Main Outcome Measure Overuse of acetaminophen, defined as an average daily dose (ADD) greater than or equal to 4 grams/day or an ADD of greater than or equal to 3 grams/day along with diagnosis codes suggesting underlying liver dysfunction. Results We identified 687 patients (3.05%) who received either greater than or equal to 4 grams/day or greater than or equal to 3 grams/day and had diagnosis codes suggesting underlying liver dysfunction (n=128). Conclusion Although the number is relatively small, some Ohio Medicaid patients are receiving acetaminophen doses that exceed safety recommendations. Because acetaminophen overuse is the leading cause of liver failure, health care professionals should be alert to the possibility of acetaminophen overuse.
Lubricated pipelining. Part 3 Stability of core-annular flow in vertical pipes

The stability of core-annular flow in vertical pipes is analysed using the linearized theory of stability. In previous studies instabilities due to interfacial friction, interfacial tension and Reynolds stresses in the bulk fluid were identified and associated with observed instabilities. In this study we include and analyse the effects of gravity. In one case gravity opposes and in the other aids the applied pressure gradient. Some preliminary results from our experiments are also presented. The prediction of stability for perfect core-annular flow in a carefully selected window of parameters is verified for the case of free fall in which the applied pressure gradient vanishes.
Conducting Polyaniline Nanowire and Its Applications in Chemiresistive Sensing

One dimensional polyaniline nanowire is an electrically conducting polymer that can be used as an active layer for sensors whose conductivity change can be used to detect chemical or biological species. In this review, the basic properties of polyaniline nanowires including chemical structures, redox chemistry, and method of synthesis are discussed. A comprehensive literature survey on chemiresistive/conductometric sensors based on polyaniline nanowires is presented and recent developments in polyaniline nanowire-based sensors are summarized. Finally, the current limitations and the future prospect of polyaniline nanowires are discussed.
A novel all-digital PLL with software adaptive filter

The phase-locked loop (PLL) is one of the key building blocks of modern electronic designs. This paper presents a novel PLL structure that utilizes a "flying-adder" frequency synthesizer as its digital control oscillator (DCO), a software implemented adaptive IIR filter as its loop filter, and a unique counter as its phase detector. This all-digital PLL (ADPLL) achieved the desired functionality with additional advantages including no off-chip R and C components required, dynamic control of the loop gain on the fly, easy implementation on the digital CMOS process. This paper presents detailed descriptions of each component of this ADPLL; it also presents the system modeling in Z-domain, by mapping from S-domain, for dynamic response, stability, and steady-state error study.
Wave propagation in a randomized cut-wire array

In this paper, the randomization and ground effects on the wave propagation in a cut-wire array have been investigated. It is found that randomizing the height of the wires affects the low-frequency cut-wire resonance phenomenon, while randomizing the spacing between wires influences the high-frequency passband/stopband behaviors. The introduction of a lossy ground changes the propagation considerably, as the wire resonance shifts up to above the plasmonic cut-off.
The Evolution of Case Management for Service Members Injured in Iraq and Afghanistan

In this article we describe the nursing care needs of wounded service members (WSMs) from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the evolving role of the nurse case manager (CM). New types of injuries, in-field treatment, immediate transport to multiple care centers, and new technologies have created a new patient population of WSMs that requires new types of nursing care and knowledge. We interviewed 235 nurses, including CMs from nine military treatment facilities (MTFs) and the Veterans Administration (VA), on actual patient care experiences and new knowledge development, and 67 WSMs about their experiences of care. New military and VA nurse case management roles are essential for the effective functioning of the evolving, highly specialized, and transport-based health care system. Working effectively with WSMs required that the CM role be expanded beyond health care management to include family support, re-entry, and life coaching for the extremely altered life circumstances of WSMs.
Differentiating creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, copyright and patenting of IS products/processes

The terms creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and intrapreneurship, copyright, and patent are defined and compared. Then, the aspects of systems that warrant their being patented or copyrighted are discussed. In some cases the hardware components of a system can be patented and the software components copyrighted. In some cases the system can be both patented and copyrighted. It is suggested that the six concepts need to be integrated to elicit a new inventiveness among system designers. >
The gene tinman is required for specification of the heart and visceral muscles in Drosophila

The homeobox-containing gene tinman (msh-2, Bodmer et al., 1990 Development 110, 661–669) is expressed in the mesoderm primordium, and this expression requires the function of the mesoderm determinant twist. Later in development, as the first mesodermal subdivisions are occurring, expression becomes limited to the visceral mesoderm and the heart. Here, I show that the function of tinman is required for visceral muscle and heart development. Embryos that are mutant for the tinman gene lack the appearance of visceral mesoderm and of heart primordia, and the fusion of the anterior and posterior endoderm is impaired. Even though tinman mutant embryos do not have a heart or visceral muscles, many of the somatic body wall muscles appear to develop although abnormally. When the tinman cDNA is ubiquitously expressed in tinman mutant embryos, via a heatshock promoter, formation of heart cells and visceral mesoderm is partially restored, tinman seems to be one of the earliest genes required for heart development and the first gene reported for which a crucial function in the early mesodermal subdivisions has been implicated.
Immature neutrophils in the blood smears of young febrile children.

Objective To determine whether the immature neutrophil (band) count in the peripheral blood smear helps to distinguish young febrile children with bacterial or respiratory viral infections. Design and Setting A prospective cohort study in 3 pediatric emergency departments. Patients A convenience sample of 100 febrile children aged 2 years or younger with either laboratory-documented bacterial infections (n=31; 24 with urinary tract infections, 7 with bacteremia) or laboratory-documented respiratory viral infections (n=69). Each patient received a clinical appearance score using the Yale Observation Scale prior to laboratory evaluation. A complete blood cell count was obtained from all patients and manual differential count of the peripheral blood smear was performed by 1 senior technician masked to clinical information. Main Outcome Measure Band counts, represented as a percentage of white blood cells in the peripheral blood smear, the absolute band count, and band-neutrophil ratio. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether the band count helps to distinguish bacterial infections from viral infections after adjusting for age, temperature, Yale Observation Scale score, and absolute neutrophil count. Results Patients with bacterial infections had a higher mean absolute neutrophil count (11.3 vs 5.9 × 10 9 /L; P P =.90), absolute band count (2.2 vs 1.9 × 10 9 /L; P =.31), or band-neutrophil ratio (0.24 vs 0.33; P =.08, bacterial vs viral, respectively); the band count did not help to distinguish bacterial and viral infections after adjusting for age, temperature, Yale Observation Scale score, and absolute neutrophil count in the regression analysis. Conclusion The band count in the peripheral blood smear does not routinely help to distinguish bacterial infections from respiratory viral infections in young febrile children.
A Comprehensive Profile of Clinical, Psychiatric, and Psychosocial Characteristics of Patients with Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

Summary: Purpose: To attain a comprehensive profile of clinical, psychiatric and psychosocial characteristics of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (NESs), and to assess the relation of these factors to NES outcome. Methods: We administered a telephone-based structured questionnaire to 56 patients with NESs (16 male and 40 female patients; mean age, 35 years) at a mean follow-up time of 18 months after making the diagnosis of NES. Results: Mean age of NES onset was 28 years with a mean duration of 8 years. Episodes resolved in 29 (51.8%) cases, decreased in 24 (42.9%), persisted unchanged in two (3.6%), and increased in frequency in one (1.8%). Thirty (53.6%) patients, including 13 (44.8%) of patients whose NESs resolved, were rehospitalized for NESs or for other symptoms. Twenty-nine (51.8%) had significant depressive symptoms, 22 (39.3%) had suicidal ideation, and 11 (19.6%) attempted suicide [including 6 (21%) of the patients whose NESs resolved]. Believing the NES diagnosis was associated with resolution or improvement of NES frequency (p < 0.029), whereas anger in response to receiving the diagnosis did not predict a poorer outcome. Patients' perceptions of having good health (p < 0.02) and good occupational functioning (p < 0.04) were highly correlated with NES resolution. Only patients whose episodes resolved were employed at the time of follow-up. Conclusions: At a mean of 1.5 years, NES outcome was poor, with resolution in only half the group and with frequent rehospitalizations after NES diagnosis, even among patients whose NES resolved. Depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts were common. Believing the NES diagnosis and patient perceptions of having good health and good occupational functioning correlated well with NES resolution.
Phosphorylation of myosin in mammary myoepithelial cells in response to oxytocin.

The response of mammary myoepithelial cells to oxytocin was studied by monitoring the level of phosphorylation of the 20,000 mol wt light chain of myosin. Myoepithelial cells were obtained by collagenase dispersion of involuted rat mammary tissue. The cells were equilibrated with [32P]orthophosphate, and then stimulated with oxytocin. Phosphorylated proteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and incorporation of 32P into the proteins was detected by autoradiography. Nanomolar concentrations of oxytocin caused a 3- fold increase in the level of phosphorylation of the myosin light chain within 0.5 min. When the cells were incubated with oxytocin in a calcium-free medium, there was only a transient phosphorylation of myosin. However, readdition of calcium to these cells resulted in phosphorylation of the myosin light chain. The results suggest that calcium is involved in the intracellular events following stimulation of the cells with oxytocin.
Does the LIBOR Reflect Banks' Borrowing Costs?

The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a vital benchmark interest rate to which hundreds of trillions of dollars of financial contracts are tied. Recently observers have raised concerns that the Libor may not accurately reflect average bank borrowing costs, it's ostensible target. In this paper we provide two types of evidence that this is the case. We first show that bank quotes in the Libor survey are difficult to rationalize by observable cost measures, including a given bank's quotes in other currency panels. Our second type of evidence is based on a simple model of bank quote choices in the Libor survey. The model predicts that if banks have incentives to affect the rate (as opposed to simply reporting costs), we should see bunching of quotes around particular points and no such bunching in the absence of these incentives. We show that there is strong evidence of the predicted bunching behavior in the data. Finally, we present suggestive evidence that several banks have large portfolio exposures to the Libor and have recently profited from the rapid descent of the Libor. We conjecture that these exposures may be the source of misreporting incentives.
Kinetics of diphenylhydantoin elimination in rats.

Concentrations of diphenylhydantoin (DPH) in the blood of male Sprague-Dawley rats after intravenous injection of 10 and 40 mg/kg14C-DPHwere determined over a sufficiently wide range to permit comparison of rates of decline at the same absolute and relative concentrations. This comparison leads to the conclusion that the elimination of DPH in the rat cannot be described by first-order or simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics but that it is qualitatively consistent with product inhibition of DPH metabolism.
Political Censorship of the Theatre in Nineteenth-Century Europe

Censorship of the stage, like censorship of the printed word, was widespread and well-established in Europe in 1815. However, while prior censorship of the press was eliminated throughout Europe by 1914, European countries almost universally retained prior censorship of the stage until (and sometimes well after) World War I. England became the first major European country to abolish censorship of the press in 1695, yet Parliament systematized a formerly haphazard theatre censorship in 1737, and did not end stage censorship until 1968. Most other European countries did not eliminate press censorship until about the middle of the nineteenth century, while maintaining theatre censorship throughout the century, and typically exercised much harsher controls over the stage than over the printed word. As John Allen has noted, ‘In many times and places the drama has been subject to far greater censorship than any other form of literature or art’, reflecting governmental feelings that ‘the theatre, with its power of affecting an audience with possibly subversive emotions and ideas, is more to be feared’.
Hypertension in renal failure

Hypertension is a common component of the morbidity associated with renal failure. The mechanisms that contribute to high blood pressure are reviewed in this section. Also covered are therapies to reduce hypertension, the treatment goals of those therapies, and the outcomes of antihypertensive therapy on kidney function in patients with renal failure. Various antihypertensive agents are specifically addressed, and a treatment paradigm is presented for combination antihypertensive drug therapy, which is usually necessary in the antihypertensive therapy of patients with renal failure.
MAXIMAL NESTS OF SUBSPACES, THE MATRIX BRUHAT DECOMPOSITION, AND THE MARRIAGE THEOREM - WITH AN APPLICATION TO GRAPH COLORING ∗

Using the celebrated Marriage Theorem of P. Hall, we give an elementary combinato- rial proof of the theorem that asserts that given two maximal nests N1 and N2 in a finite dimensional vector space V , there is an ordered basis of V that generates N1 and a permutation of that ordered basis that generates N2. From this theorem one easily obtains the Matrix Bruhat Decomposition. A generalization to matroids is discussed, and an application to graph coloring is given.
Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity of 1 versus 2 Doses of Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in Vaccine-Naive 5–8-Year-Old Children

BackgroundTwo doses of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) are recommended for children <9 years old receiving vaccine for the first time, but compliance is suboptimal. This study assessed the need for a second dose of TIV in this age groupMethodsIn this prospective, open-label study, 232 influenza vaccine–naive 5–8-year-olds enrolled in a health maintenance organization received 2 doses of TIV in fall 2004. Serum for antibody titer measurement was obtained at 3 time points (n=222). Parents completed diaries for 5 daysResultsBoth doses of vaccine were well tolerated. The strongest predictor of a protective antibody response (⩾1:40) after 1 dose of TIV was baseline seropositive status. In multivariate analysis adjusting for age, sex, and baseline serostatus, the proportion of children with protective antibody responses was significantly higher after 2 doses than after 1 dose of TIV for each antigen (P<.001, for A/H1N1; P=.01, for A/H3N2; P<.001, for B). Age and sex were not independently predictive of a protective antibody response. Over one-third of children had antibody responses <1:40 for the type B vaccine component, even after 2 dosesConclusionsThe present study supports the need for 2 doses of TIV in 5–8-year-olds receiving TIV for the first time. Efforts to increase compliance with the 2-dose recommendation are warranted
Multiple causes of seedling rarity in scrub plum, Prunus geniculata (Rosaceae), an endangered shrub of the Florida scrub.

Conservation of an imperiled plant often requires an understanding of its reproductive ecology. Scrub plum ( Prunus geniculata ) is an endangered Florida shrub endemic to pyrogenic xeric uplands. Although plants are long-lived and may fl ower profusely, particularly after burning, fruit yield is sparse and seedlings are rare. We investigated potential causes of seedling rarity in scrub plum by studying its fl oral sex and breeding systems, fruit development, and germination ecology. We also developed a fl ow chart based on two time-since-fi re scenarios to illustrate the cumulative impact of these factors on seedling recruitment. Breeding system experiments suggested partial gametophytic self-incompatibility in this functionally andromonoecious species, with inbreeding depression in self-compatible individuals. Predispersal seed predation, the major constraint on seedling recruitment, was lower in the fi rst postburn season. In two fi eld experiments, seed germination was < 11% irrespective of treatment. These results indicate that seedling recruitment in scrub plum may be limited by multiple factors, including sexual reproductive failure, high predispersal seed predation, and low seed germination. The chance of a bisexual fl ower producing a seedling ranges from 5 in 1000 to 5 in 100 000, depending on the time since fi re. Restoration of scrub plum ’ s historical fi re regime may mitigate some of these factors.
Live Bureaucrats and Dead Public Servants: How People in Government Are Discussed on the Floor of the House

This article examines how members of Congress refer to individuals in government on the House floor. Using content analysis, floor speeches from the 103rd and 104th Congresses were examined to determine the way in which terms such as “bureaucrats” and “public servants” were manipulated in floor speeches, and the political gain members seek to achieve from these moves. The data show that the Republican takeover of Congress led to a marked change in the tone of debate, and a sharp increase in pejorative discussions of individuals in government. Republicans tended to use bureaucrats in legislative debate in their efforts to shape the debate over the size and role of government.
Epstein-Barr virus-induced membrane antigens: immunochemical characterization of Triton X-100 solubilized viral membrane antigens from EBV-superinfected Raji cells

In an attempt to qualitatively identify the membrane antigen (MA) complex induced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of lymphoblastoid cells, superinfected Raji cells were surface labelled with 125I by the lactoperoxidase method and solubilized with Triton X-100, then the 125I-labelled membrane proteins were precipitated by sera containing high antibody titers to MA. Analysis of these immune precipitates on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel eletrophoresis identified four major EBV-specific membrane proteins with molecular weights (mol. wt) of 280,000, 250,000, 170,000 and 90,000. Sera from patients with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and infectious mononucleosis (IM) and from EBV-infected disease-free individuals showed differential patterns of reactivity to these antigens with some sera only recognizing three or less of the antigens. The results from invesigations with these sera also indicated that these major proteins were not related to EBV-induced viral capsid antigens (VCA) or the virus-associated early antigen (EA) complexes as defined by immunofluorescence. Metabolic labelling of EBV-infected Raji cells with [14C]glucosamine, followed by Triton X-100 solubilization and radioimmune precipitation, identified the 280,000, 250,000 and 90,000 components as glycoproteins. The lactoperoxidase-labelled 170,000 molecular weight component was not significantly glycosylated and, therefore, could not be categorized as a glycoprotein on the basis of this study. In addition, a glycoprotein with a mol. wt of 130,000 was identified by this approach which also appeared to be specified by EBV. The results from these investigations, therefore, indicated that the EBV-induced MA complex was composed of four major glycoproteins and one nonglycosylated high mol. wt protein.
Factors associated with obesity in Indonesian adolescents

Objective. To investigate adolescent eating, activity, and behavioral patterns, and attitudes and their associations with obesity in selected communities in Indonesia. Design. A cross-sectional que...
Lipid-Protamine-DNA-Mediated Antigen Delivery

The development of novel new generation vaccine systems that is based on proteins, peptides or DNA is of great current interest. However, due to the lower efficiencies of these new generation vaccines, they are seldomly used alone. Rather, their formulations often contain adjuvants, either to enhance the immune responses or to reduce dosing. The present chapter will provide a brief overview of the recent advances in peptide-based cancer vaccine adjuvants, focusing mainly on Liposome-Protamine-DNA (LPD) nanoparticle-mediated antigen delivery.
Lipid class dynamics during development in early life stages of shortbelly rockfish and their application to condition assessment

Lipid class dynamics and the relationship between weight and length were analysed during early life stage (ELS) development in wild populations of shortbelly rockfish Sebastes jordani to investigate their utility in a condition or nutritional status assessment. Analyses from more than 3000 field-captured shortbelly rockfish indicated little variation in weight for a given length and provided limited application in the assessment of condition. The fractionation of total lipids into individual classes revealed trends in lipid metabolism throughout development. These trends were described best using a stage-specific regression model, since Sebastes show defined early life history transitions. Among developmental stages, triacylglycerols (TAG) and polar lipids (PL) were the dominant lipid classes and cholesterol (CHOL), sterol/wax esters, and nonesterified fatty acids were found in lower concentrations. In the preflexion stage, low concentrations and constant levels of TAG along with the combined influence of endogenous and exogenous sources of energy compromised the use of TAG as an index of nutritional status. However, during flexion through juvenile stages, TAG levels increased indicating an accumulation of energy reserves with development, thus providing a valid indicator of nutritional status in later stages. Large fluctuations in PL concentrations during development suggested complex metabolism which may be due to changes in cell volume and cell membrane proliferation with development as well as catabolism. CHOL declined in larval stages, then remained constant with increasing size through the juvenile stage, negating its use as a normalizer for variations of mass in a TAG/CHOL ratio prior to juvenile transformation. This study provides the first documentation of lipid dynamics during early life stages following parturition in a marine viviparous teleost.
Prediction of software faults using fuzzy nonlinear regression modeling

Software quality models can predict the risk of faults in modules early enough for cost-effective prevention of problems. This paper introduces the fuzzy nonlinear regression (FNR) modeling technique as a method for predicting fault ranges in software modules. FNR modeling differs from classical linear regression in that the output of an FNR model is a fuzzy number. Predicting the exact number of faults in each program module is often not necessary. The FNR model can predict the interval that the number of faults of each module falls into with a certain probability. A case study of a full-scale industrial software system was used to illustrate the usefulness of FNR modeling. This case study included four historical software releases. The first release's data were used to build the FNR model, while the remaining three releases' data were used to evaluate the model. We found that FNR modeling gives useful results.
Roundabouts as a Form of Access Management

Transportation engineers and planners are becoming more interested in using roundabouts to address capacity and traffic operations, access management, and safety concerns in the transportation system. Roundabouts are preferred as a form of intersection by some communities because they allow for continuous flow of traffic and they can be less expensive to maintain and operate. However, the operational characteristics in the functional area are less well understood than other types of intersections. Therefore, although roundabouts are being used in a variety of contexts, existing research does not provide detailed guidance on how to evaluate the use of roundabouts as a form of access management. This paper provides an operational analysis of selected roundabouts in Florida and South Carolina. The operational analysis identifies four areas of concern: corner clearance, including stopping site distance and intersection sight distance; the flow of traffic and the queuing of vehicles in the functional area near...
The incompetent internal os of the cervix. Complications after repair.

Summary The literature, personal communications, and the case reports of Michael Reese Hospital furnish evidence of complications following the surgical repair of the incompetent internal os of the cervix during the nonpregnant and the pregnant state. These complications are hemorrhage, infection, poor Wound healing, rupture of the uterus, and on rare occasions lqss of the uterus and in one reported case death. The 5 instances of inadequate repair or poor healing as complications occurred in our personal current series of 95 patients. From pathological and bacteriological studies the reason for these complications may be found. Therefore, infection must be eliminated before operation, or it may be treated prophylactically when emergency operation is essential. The operation during the nonpregnant state is elective and can follow all surgical principles. Operations during pregnancy, that is, the Shirodkar type or circlage procedure, is indicated as an emergency procedure and, therefore, the added risk may have to be taken. Planned circlage operations and prophylactic procedures, particularly when based on a history only, raise the question as to whether hazards to the mother and the pregnancy justify such procedures. It is common knowledge that women with patent cervices but without defects in the isthmus may carry pr gnancies to term after one or two abortions, even of the second trimester type. Therefore, it may be concluded that the wedge excision of the scar or defect is indicated during the nonpregnant state while the Shirodkar operation is indicated in the pregnant state. It is important to recognize the proper indications and prerequisites of each operation, in order to avoid the complications described and also to prevent these operations from being incorrectly executed and fal ling into disrepute. The operations do not interfere with the fertility and reproductivity 13 if infections are overcome and the cervix rendered competent, if necessary, by repeated repairs. Once labor is begun, the obstruction (the circlage suture material) to the effacement and dilatation of the cervix must be removed to prevent rupture of the uterus. No rupture of the repaired defect was observed in this series of patients.
Optimizing the interval between G-CSF therapy and FDG PET imaging

366 Objectives To define the interval between granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration and FDG PET imaging that limits interference by stimulated marrow. Methods FDG PET scans performed in patients with Ewing sarcoma or rhabdomyosarcoma were retrospectively reviewed by two reviewers blinded to G-CSF administration. Reviewers subjectively scored marrow activity (1-4) with regard to interference with clinical interpretation and measured standardized uptake values in the spine. Results 44 FDG PET exams were reviewed in 22 patients, 18 of whom received pegfilgrastim and 4 of whom received filgrastim. There was substantial agreement in scoring between reviewers (α=0.633). Stimulated marrow was scored as potentially or definitely interfering in 19/44 scans (43.2%). Of the 18 patients treated with pegfilgrastim, the median time between G-CSF administration and imaging was 10 days (range:1-19 days) for scans with potential or definite marrow interference and 19.5 days (range:7-55 days) for scans without marrow interference (score≤2). No scan >10 days after pegfilgrastim administration had marrow activity considered definitely interfering. Of the 4 patients treated with filgrastim, subjective interference by marrow stimulation was present in only 1 scan (1 day after G-CSF). SUVmax in the spine was ≥3 (high enough to interfere) in 17/44 scans (38.6%). Median time between pegfilgrastim administration and imaging in patients with SUVmax ≥3 in the spine was 16 days (range:1-20 days). In patients with SUVmax Conclusions An interval of 19-20 days between pegfilgrastim administration and FDG PET scanning appears sufficient to limit interference by stimulated marrow. In patients treated with filgrastim, shorter intervals may suffice but additional study is needed to confirm this.
Primary Structural Variation in Anaplasma marginale Msp2 Efficiently Generates Immune Escape Variants

Antigenic variation allows microbial pathogens to evade immune clearance and establish persistent infection. Anaplasma marginale utilizes gene conversion of a repertoire of silent msp2 alleles into a single active expression site to encode unique Msp2 variants. As the genomic complement of msp2 alleles alone is insufficient to generate the number of variants required for persistence, A. marginale uses segmental gene conversion, in which oligonucleotide segments from multiple alleles are recombined into the expression site to generate a novel msp2 mosaic not represented elsewhere in the genome. Whether these segmental changes are sufficient to evade a broad antibody response is unknown. We addressed this question by identifying Msp2 variants that differed in primary structure within the immunogenic hypervariable region microdomains and tested whether they represented true antigenic variants. The minimal primary structural difference between variants was a single amino acid resulting from a codon insertion, and overall, the amino acid identity among paired microdomains ranged from 18 to 92%. Collectively, 89% of the expressed structural variants were also antigenic variants across all biological replicates, independent of a specific host major histocompatibility complex haplotype. Biological relevance is supported by the following: (i) all structural variants were expressed during infection of a natural host, (ii) the structural variation observed in the microdomains corresponded to the mean length of variants generated by segmental gene conversion, and (iii) antigenic variants were identified using a broad antibody response that developed during infection of a natural host. The findings demonstrate that segmental gene conversion efficiently generates Msp2 antigenic variants.
Development of a stochastic model of pavement crack initiation

Pavement cracking models provide useful predictions of cracking initiation and progression, for purposes of pavement design and management. Pavement cracking initiation is a highly variable event. The widespread use of deterministic models of pavement cracking initiation is inherently problematic, as these models do not provide information on the variability of the cracking initiation times. Another common problem in modeling pavement cracking initiation is the inappropriate treatment of data censoring. Data collection surveys are usually of limited length. Thus, some pavement sections will have already cracked by the day the survey starts; others will crack during the survey period, while others will only do so after the survey is concluded. If the censoring of the cracking initiation times is not accounted for properly, the model may suffer from statistical biases. In this paper, an analysis of the pavement cracking data collected during the AASHO Road Test is presented. The analysis is based on the use of stochastic duration modeling techniques. Duration models enable the stochastic nature of pavement cracking initiation to be represented as well as censored data to be incorporated in the statistical estimation of the model parameters. The results presented in this paper show that the cracking initiation model provides good fit to the data, the parameter estimates have the correct signs and relative magnitudes, and the model predictions are more accurate than those obtained with the original AASHO model. 1. Introduct ion The planning of maintenance and rehabilitation (MR hcshin@ce.berkeley.edu 2 Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Tel: 510-643-1084; Fax: 510-642-1246; madanat@ce.berkeley.edu
A comparison of habitat and food of two species of Microtus.

A system of stratified random sampling was employed in the Terre Haute Quadrangle, Vigo County, Indiana, to obtain specimens of Microtus ochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus for comparing habitat and food habits. M. pennsylvanicus occurred in fields containing at least 50% grasses and abundant cover. M. ochrogaster was found in areas with fewer grasses and less cover. M. pennsylvanicus was found to be closely associated with Poa and Muhlenbergia , while M. ochrogaster was closely associated with Poa , Muhlenbergia , Setaria and Trifolium . Important foods of M. pennsylvanicus were Poa , Panicum and Muhlenbergia comprising, respectively, 32.1, 24.7 and 14.6% of the volume of stomach contents. Important foods for M. ochrogaster were Poa , roots and Trifolium ; these contributed 15.8, 10.0 and 9.7% by volume, respectively. M. ochrogaster ate a greater variety of foods than M. pennsylvanicus , probably owing to the greater numbers of species of plants in its habitat. M. ochrogaster ate 4.7% insect material and 0.6% Endogone ; M. pennsylvanicus ate 3.6% insect material and 2.1% Endogone . The more abundant plants in the habitat were the most important foods. Ambrosia , Aster and Solidago were avoided.
In Situ Fabrication of 3D Ag@ZnO Nanostructures for Microfluidic Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Systems

In this work, we develop an in situ method to grow highly controllable, sensitive, three-dimensional (3D) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates via an optothermal effect within microfluidic devices. Implementing this approach, we fabricate SERS substrates composed of Ag@ZnO structures at prescribed locations inside microfluidic channels, sites within which current fabrication of SERS structures has been arduous. Conveniently, properties of the 3D Ag@ZnO nanostructures such as length, packing density, and coverage can also be adjusted by tuning laser irradiation parameters. After exploring the fabrication of the 3D nanostructures, we demonstrate a SERS enhancement factor of up to ∼2 × 106 and investigate the optical properties of the 3D Ag@ZnO structures through finite-difference time-domain simulations. To illustrate the potential value of our technique, low concentrations of biomolecules in the liquid state are detected. Moreover, an integrated cell-trapping function of the 3D Ag@ZnO struct...