cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LUNG VOLUME REDUCTION SURGERY FOR EMPHYSEMA

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease with a variable pathophysiologic basis 114 manifest by varying degrees of chronic airflow obstruction and hyperinflation. The incidence in the United States is estimated to be at least 14 million and the prevalence is rising. 57,80,137 At least two million individuals suffer from (predominantly) emphysema, which is characterized by anatomic air space enlargement. 33 The economic burden of COPD is huge and increases with more severe disease. 74 Furthermore, a marked impairment in quality of life is noted in these patients as the disease progresses. 43 Over the past 50 years, many advances have been made in the management of COPD. The American Thoracic Society recently published a detailed, evidence-based analysis of medical management that provides a stepped-care algorithm of bronchodilators and suggests a possible role for anti-inflammatory agents. 2 Furthermore, a recent comprehensive review of pulmonary rehabilitation confirmed objective and subjective improvements with varying rehabilitation formats in patients with COPD. 1 Despite these advances, many patients continue to experience incapacitating breathlessness and exercise limitation. Over the past 90 years, numerous surgical approaches have been devised to ameliorate symptoms in these patients.
Reconsidering the age thresholds for type II diabetes screening in the U.S.

Background Type II diabetes and its complications can sometimes be prevented, if identified and treated early. One fifth of diabetics in the U.S. remain undiagnosed. Commonly used screening guidelines are inconsistent. Purpose To examine the optimal age cut-point for opportunistic universal screening, compared to targeted screening, which is recommended by U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2010. Number of people needed to screen (NNS) to obtain one positive test result was calculated for different guidelines. Sampling weights were applied to construct national estimates. The 2010 Medicare fee schedule was used for cost estimation. Analysis was conducted in January 2014. Results NNS, under universal screening, drops sharply at age 35 years, from 80 (30–34-year-olds) to 31 (35–39-year-olds). Opportunistic universal screening of eligible people aged ≥35 years would yield an NNS of 15, translating to $66 per positive test. Among people aged 35–44 years (who are not recommended for universal screening by ADA), most (71%) were overweight or obese and all had at least one other ADA risk factor. Only 34% of individuals aged ≥35 years met USPSTF criteria. Strictly enforcing USPSTF guidelines would have resulted in a majority (61%) of potential positive test cases being missed (5,508,164 cases nationwide). Conclusions Opportunistic universal screening among individuals aged ≥35 years could greatly reduce the national prevalence of undiagnosed pre-diabetes or diabetes at relatively low cost.
Transmission and Reception by Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Antennas

Broadband antennas are very useful in many applications because they operate over a wide range of frequencies. The objective of this paper is to study the transient responses of various well-known antennas over broad frequency ranges. As such, the phase responses of these antennas as a function of frequency are of great interest. In the ensuing analysis, each antenna is excited by a monocycle pulse. Many antennas show resonant properties, and numerous reflections exist in the antennas' outputs. The first part of this paper deals with ways of converting various resonating antennas to traveling-wave antennas by using resistive loading. Appropriate loading increases the bandwidth of operation of the antennas. However, the drawback is the additional loss in the load applied to the antenna structure, leading to a loss of efficiency to around fifty percent. However, some of the antennas are inherently broadband, up to a 100:1 bandwidth. Hence, the transient responses of these antennas can be used to determine their suitability for wideband applications with a low cutoff frequency. The second part of the paper illustrates the radiation and reception properties of various conventional ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas in the time domain. An antenna's transient response can be used to determine the suitability of the antenna in wideband applications
Molecules, morphology and fossils: a comprehensive approach to odonate phylogeny and the evolution of the odonate wing

We undertook a comprehensive morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis of dragonfly phylogeny, examining both extant and fossil lineages in simultaneous analyses. The legitimacy of higher-level family groups and the phylogenetic relationship between families were tested. Thirteen families were supported as monophyletic (Aeshnidae, Calopterygidae, Chlorocyphidae, Euphaeidae, Gomphidae, Isostictidae, Lestidae, Libellulidae, Petaluridae, Platystictidae, Polythoridae, Pseudostigmatidae and Synthemistidae) and eight as non-monophyletic (Amphipterygidae, Coenagrionidae, Corduliidae, Megapodagrionidae, Protoneuridae and Synlestidae), although Perilestidae and Platycnemididae were recovered as monophyletic under Bayesian analyses. Nine families were represented by one species, thus monophyly was not tested (Epiophlebiidae, Austropetaliidae, Chlorogomphidae, Cordulegastridae, Macromiidae, Chorismagrionidae, Diphlebiidae, Lestoideidae and Pseudolestidae). Epiprocta and Zygoptera were recovered as monophyletic. Ditaxinerua is supported as the sister lineage to Odonata, Epiophlebiidae and the lestid-like damselflies are sister to the Epiprocta and Zygoptera, respectively. Austropetaliidae + Aeshnidae is the sister lineage to the remaining Anisoptera. Tarsophlebia's placement as sister to Epiprocta or as sister to Epiprocta + Zygoptera was not resolved. Refinements are made to the current classification. Fossil taxa did not seem to provide signals crucial to recovering a robust phylogeny, but were critical to understanding the evolution of key morphological features associated with flight. Characters associated with wing structure were optimized revealing two wing character complexes: the pterostigma–nodal brace complex and the costal wing base & costal–ScP junction complex. In turn, these two complexes appear to be associated; the pterostigma–nodal brace complex allowing for further modification of the wing characters comprised within the costal wing base & costal–ScP junction complex leading the modern odonate wing. © The Willi Hennig Society 2008.
A system for stereotactic radiosurgery with a linear accelerator

A small field irradiation technique to deliver high doses of single fraction photon radiation to small, precisely located volumes (0.5 to 8 cm3) within the brain has been developed. Our method uses a modified Brown-Roberts-Wells (BRS), CT-guided, stereotactic system and a 6 MV linear accelerator equipped with a special collimator (diameters of 12.5 mm to 30.0 mm projected to isocenter) located 23 cm from isocenter. Target localization via planar angiography has been added. Treatment consists of a series of arcing beams using both gantry and couch rotations. During treatment, the patient's head is immobilized independently of the radiotherapy couch and is precisely positioned without reference to room lasers or light field. A precise verification of alignment precedes each treatment. Extensive performance tests have shown that a target, localized by CT, can be irradiated with a positional accuracy of 2.4 mm in any direction with 95% confidence. If angiography is used for localization, the results are better. The dose 1.0 cm outside the target volume is less than 20% of the prescribed dose for a medium sized collimator.
Removal of simple hydrocarbons from a rare gas by a 70%Zr-25%V-5%Fe getter

Abstract The properties of a 70%Zr-25%V-5%Fe getter in a fixed bed configuration designed to remove small quantities of methane and ethylene from argon and its application to a point of use purifier are reported. To characterize the getter, breakthrough profiles of the hydrocarbon concentration were measured and analysed in the constant pattern regime. The mechanism for the sorption of CH4 and C2H4 appears to be dissociation on the surface followed by diffusion of the hydrogen and carbon into the alloy. Hydrogen may be desorbed from the alloy, but carbon sorption is irreversible and limits the getter lifetime. The saturation loading of carbon is found to be 160 μmol per gram of alloy. Diffusion of carbon into the alloy controls the rate of sorption, with a diffusion coefficient of 6.4 ± 1.6 × 10−8 cm2s−1 at 700°C. This information has been used to design a two-zone purifier to remove methane and hydrogen from argon. Tests of this purifier show that the mole fractions of hydrogen and methane in argon can be reduced to 50 and less than 20 ppb, respectively.
Validation of the Vmax Metabolic Cart in a Simulated Pediatric Model

Background: The ability to accurately measure resting energy expenditure (REE) using indirect calorimetry, often referred to as the “gold standard” in nutrition needs assessment, is important given the well-established positive correlation between patient outcome and proportion of the nutrition goal met. While many studies have been done to compare various metabolic carts with one another, the literature lacks a large simulator-based validation of any metabolic cart system. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 8 specifically trained staff members independently conducted 10 simulation trials each using the Vmax Encore metabolic analyzer in conjunction with a metabolic calibration system, which simulates patient metabolic activity, to validate the accuracy of the Vmax Encore across a wide range of simulated metabolic conditions. Testing conditions consisted of incremental adjustments in calibrated gas infusion with a consistently set tidal volume and respiratory rate. Results: There was a strong, st...
Perceptions of Sexual Harassment

This paper focuses on people's perceptions of sexual harassment. Definitions of sexual harassment are presented, previous studies of sexual harassment are reviewed, and the results of a two-part study are presented. Examined are the possible influence of sex, gender role socialization, organizational and socio-cultural power differentials, and type and severity of behavior on perceptions of sexual harassment. The data suggest that gender role socialization is the primary influence on perceptions of sexual harassment.
Not a Waste of Time: Scheduling Non-academic Learning Activities Into the School Day

With urban Title I schools under pressure to improve students’ academic performance, it is unusual to see non-academic learning opportunities scheduled during the school day. Through the example of one elementary school that is willing to schedule time for students and teachers to engage in yoga practice together, the research found that valuable learning occurs during yoga practice that is carried over into the academic classroom. Using ethnographic methods over a 4-year period, researchers observed in a second, third, and fourth grade class before, during, and after yoga instruction. The study found that important non-academic learning takes place during yoga instruction, specifically developing focus, perseverance, and positive relationships, and that this learning carries over into the academic classroom. The study concludes that the learning that takes place during yoga instruction is best treated as a social process involving a community of practice (Lave and Wenger in Situated learning: legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1991; Wenger in Communities of practice. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1998) comprised of the yoga instructor, classroom teacher, and students, and that institutional support for non-academic learning experiences deepens student learning.
Photonic band gaps in colloidal systems

Classes of colloidal dielectric systems are found with full three-dimensional photonic band gaps, using photonic band-structure calculations. The fcc structure composed from either high dielectric spheres or low dielectric spheres has three-dimensional band gaps and lower-frequency pseudogaps. The $\mathrm{AB}2$ structure has a higher-frequency pseudogap.
Liver hypertrophy, liver glycogen accumulation, and organ-weight changes in radiothyroidectomized and goitrogen-treated chicks☆

Abstract The effectiveness of radiothyroidectomy and of the feeding of thiouracil, propylthiouracil, and methimazole in producing hypothyroid changes in young cockerels was studied. Changes in glycogen content and relative size of the liver are emphasized as sensitive indicators of severe hypothyroidism. Changes in body, comb, testes, thyroid, and bursa weights are also considered. It was concluded that: (1) 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2% thiouracil (TU) are equally effective in producing hypothyroid changes up to age 3 weeks. (2) An equimolar amount of propylthiouracil (PTU) is slightly more effective than 0.2% TU up to age 30 days. (3) Radiothyroidectomy (RT x ) and 0.2% PTU are equally effective to age 5 weeks, but PTU has a greater depressive effect on body weight because of its probably disagreeable taste and consequent effect upon food intake. (4) An amount of methimazole at 0.1% was as effective as 0.2% or 0.3% TU to age 5 weeks, but 0.05% and 0.025% methimazole were relatively ineffective except in thyroid weight changes. (5) Amounts of iodinated casein one-third to one-fourth the amount equivalent to normal thyroid hormone secretion when added to TU diets allowed normal growth in most organs measured, and normal liver glycogen, but the thyroid hypertrophied. Further reduction of iodinated casein to one-fifteenth to one-twentieth the normal thyroid hormone equivalent resulted in moderate liver hypertrophy and above normal glycogen deposition. (6) The twice daily injection of PTU produced liver changes characteristic of TU feeding. (7) The effects of TU on liver change persisted from between 27 and 50 hours after the withdrawal of TU from the feed. (8) Onset of liver changes after initiation of TU feeding required 2–4 days depending on age, and occurred earlier than changes in thyroid weight. (9) Interruption of a TU feeding regime by an overnight fast, although lowering liver glycogen markedly, did not obviate the TU effect during refeeding. (10) Withdrawal of normalizing exogenous thyroxin from RT x chicks resulted in liver hypertrophy and increased glycogen accumulation within 48 hours. Comparative responses of liver in rat and chick are discussed.
Quantification of tropomyosin by radioimmunoassay in developing hearts of cardiac mutant axolotls, Ambystoma mexicanum

Recessive mutant genec in axolotls results in a failure of embryonic heart function. Earlier morphological studies showed that the mutant myocardial cells lack organized sarcomeric myofibrils. Electrophoresis and immunofluorescent studies suggested that the mutant heart cells contain substantial amounts of actin, myosin and α-actinin; however, tropomyosin appeared deficient. In the present study, we employed a newly developed extremely sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay method to quantitate very accurately the tropomyosin levels in normal and mutant sibling hearts at early (stage 35), intermediate (stage 39) and late (stage 41) developmental stages. Our results demonstrate that cardiac mutant hearts contain significantly lower than normal quantities of antigenically detectable tropomyosin at all of the developmental stages examined. This insufficiency of tropomyosin in mutant hearts may be a primary cause at the cell level for their failure to form organized myofibrils.
The appropriateness of use of coronary angiography in New York State.

Objective. —To determine the appropriateness of use of coronary angiography in New York State. Design. —Retrospective randomized medical record review. Setting. —Fifteen randomly selected hospitals in New York State that provide coronary angiography. Patients. —Random sample of 1335 patients undergoing coronary angiography in New York State in 1990. Main Outcome Measures. —Percentage of patients who underwent coronary angiography for appropriate, uncertain, or inappropriate indications. Results. —Approximately 76% of coronary angiographies were rated appropriate; 20%, uncertain; and 4%, inappropriate. Inappropriate use did not vary significantly between the elderly (ie, patients aged 65 years and older) and nonelderly, 4.7% and 3.9%, respectively. Although the rate of inappropriate use varied from 0% to 9% among hospitals, the difference was not significant. Rates of appropriateness did not vary by hospital location (upstate vs downstate), volume (fewer than 750 procedures annually or at least 750 procedures annually), teaching status, or whether revascularization was available at the hospital where angiography was performed. Conclusions. —Although coronary angiography was used for few inappropriate indications in New York State, many procedures were performed for uncertain indications in which the benefit and risk were approximately equal or unknown. ( JAMA . 1993;269:766-769)
Blimp1 controls photoreceptor versus bipolar cell fate choice during retinal development

Photoreceptors, rods and cones are the most abundant cell type in the mammalian retina. However, the molecules that control their development are not fully understood. In studies of photoreceptor fate determination, we found that Blimp1 (Prdm1) is expressed transiently in developing photoreceptors. We analyzed the function of Blimp1 in the mouse retina using a conditional deletion approach. Developmental analysis of mutants showed that Otx2+ photoreceptor precursors ectopically express the bipolar cell markers Chx10 (Vsx2) and Vsx1, adopting bipolar instead of photoreceptor fate. However, this fate shift did not occur until the time when bipolar cells are normally specified during development. Most of the excess bipolar cells died around the time of bipolar cell maturation. Our results suggest that Blimp1 expression stabilizes immature photoreceptors by preventing bipolar cell induction. We conclude that Blimp1 regulates the decision between photoreceptor and bipolar cell fates in the Otx2+ cell population during retinal development.
Oxygenated Hydrocarbon Ionic Surfactants Exhibit CO2 Solubility

Several oxygenated hydrocarbons, including acetylated sugars, poly(propylene glycol), and oligo(vinyl acetate), have been used to generate CO2-soluble ionic surfactants. Surfactants with vinyl acetate tails yielded the most promising results, exhibiting levels of CO2 solubility comparable to those associated with fluorinated ionic surfactants. For example, a sodium sulfate with single, oligomeric vinyl acetate (VAc) tails consisting of 10 VAc repeat units was 7 wt % soluble in CO2 at 25 °C and 48 MPa. Upon introduction of water to these systems, only surfactants with the oligomeric vinyl acetate tails exhibited spectroscopic evidence of a polar environment that was capable of solubilizing the methyl orange into the CO2-rich phase. For example, a single-phase solution of CO2, 0.15 wt % sodium bis(vinyl acetate)8 sulfosuccinate, and water, at water loading (W) values ranging from 10 to 40 at 25 °C and 34.5 MPa, exhibited a methyl orange peak at 423 nm. This result indicated that the core of a reverse micell...
654 EFFECT OF PERORAL ADMINISTRATION OF ACTH ON PLASMA CORTICOSTERONE LEVELS IN SUCKLING RATS: TIME AND DOSE DEPENDENCY

The presence of ACTH in rats' milk prompted us to explore whether ACTH given perorally (p.o.) to suckling rats has an effect on plasma corticosterone (C). After this was demonstrated in preliminary experiments, we studied the time dependency of the ACTH effect. In suckling Sprague-Dawley rats (11-14 days old), starved for 2 hours and then fed ACTH1-39 (Armour, 0.50 U/g BW in water), plasma C peaked at 30 minutes and remained significantly higher until 180′ when compared with water-fed controls. To determine the lowest effective dose, varying amounts of ACTH were given p.o. (0.06; 0.13; 0.25; 0.50 and 1.00 U/g BW) and plasma C measured 2 hours later. The two lower doses evoked an insignificant change; a significant increase was seen using the 0.25 U dose. Its effect was the same as that of the higher doses used. These studies thus demonstrate the acute effect of p.o. ACTH in suckling rats. Further studies are needed to evaluate the physiologic role of ACTH normally present in rats' milk.
Competitive Positioning of Promotional Products Sources Based on Client Perceptions and Experience

Respondents evaluated four different sources of promotional products—promotional products distributors, manufacturer/ imprinters, catalogs, and advertising/promotion agencies—in terms of 18 source selection criteria and 10 services. Using importance-performance analysis, client rankings of importance were compared with client ratings of performance on each of these 28 items to determine where discrepancies occur. Out of 18 criteria that clients use to select their promotional products vendors, the top criteria were negatively disconfirmed (i.e., importance was significantly higher than performance). It was found that no one source has a distinctive competitive advantage over the others on the most important source criteria.
Cultural psychiatry considerations in older adults.

C psychiatry or transcultural psychiatry is “the comparative study of mental health and mental illness among different societies, nations, and cultures and the interrelationships of mental disorders with cultural environments . . . . In the past decade there has been greatly enhanced interest in the field and rapprochement of psychiatry with cultural anthropology, sociology, and behavioral science generally.”1 Among its many facets, it questions whetherpsychiatric classifications ordisorders are the same across cultures or ethnic groups, cultural factors that pose unique risks or buffers against mental illness, and varied social constructs, values and norms that guide behaviors. Forminority populationswithin other dominant cultural groups, it is often concerned with the impact of trauma, social exclusion, disparities in care and education, and prejudice on development and behavior. Older adults represent a subpopulation where cultural issues seem to be especially important. What has often been surprising for minority populations embedded in different cultures is the resilience they show in having marginally different, instead of higher rates, of major psychiatric diagnoses despite higher rates of exposure to psychosocial pressures known to increase risk for mental illness. It is worth mentioning that consensus documents have been developed to help professionals understand the common issues in dealing with patients from different cultures. For example, professional organizations such as the American Counseling Association,2 the American Psychological Association,3 the National Association of Social Workers,4 and the American Psychiatric Association5–7 have issued guidelines on Cultural Competence. In 2001, the Surgeon General’s Office issued a major report on mental health, race, and ethnicity.8 In 1994, the American Psychiatric Association developed an Outline for Cultural Formulation in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition9 (DSM-IV). The Association of American Medical Colleges now mandates medical schools to provide instruction on culturally competent assessment and treatment; and the Office of Minority Health, under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, developed standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare.10 This issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry brings together six research articles showing some of the diversity in cultural psychiatry. In the first article, Boorsma et al.11 present data on incidence and risk factors of depression in Dutch nursing homes and residential care homes. Like the United States, about 10% of older adults older than 75 live in residential care homes and nursing homes. The InterRAI–Long-Term Care Facility instrument is applied every 3 months. This is an updated version of the Minimum Data Set. Incident depression was defined as the emergence of depression on followup either when there was an absence of a clinical diagnosis of depression or at first observation. The
Catalyst deactivation and engineering control for steam reforming of higher hydrocarbons in a novel membrane reformer

Abstract The catalyst deactivation and reformer performance in a novel circulating fluidized bed membrane reformer (CFBMR) for steam reforming of higher hydrocarbons are investigated using mathematical models. A catalyst deactivation model is developed based on a random carbon deposition mechanism over nickel reforming catalyst. The results show that the reformer has a strong tendency for carbon formation and catalyst deactivation at low steam to carbon feed ratios ( mol/mol ) for high reaction temperatures (>700 K ) and high pressures (>506.5 kPa ) . The trend is similar for the cases without and with hydrogen selective membranes. Based on this preliminary investigation, an engineering control approach, i.e., in-site control with a concept of critical/minimum steam to carbon feed ratio, is proposed and used to determine the carbon deposition free regions for both cases without and with hydrogen membranes. The comparison between the reported data and model simulation shows that the critical steam to carbon feed ratio predicted by the model agrees well with the reported industrial/experimental operating data.
Use of the Minimum-Norm Search Direction in a Nonmonotone Version of the Gauss-Newton Method

In this work, a new stabilization scheme for the Gauss-Newton method is defined, where the minimum norm solution of the linear least-squares problem is normally taken as search direction and the standard Gauss-Newton equation is suitably modified only at a subsequence of the iterates. Moreover, the stepsize is computed by means of a nonmonotone line search technique. The global convergence of the proposed algorithm model is proved under standard assumptions and the superlinear rate of convergence is ensured for the zero-residual case. A specific implementation algorithm is described, where the use of the pure Gauss-Newton iteration is conditioned to the progress made in the minimization process by controlling the stepsize. The results of a computational experimentation performed on a set of standard test problems are reported.
New developments in MEMS using SiC and TiNi shape memory alloy materials

Abstract Developments in microelectromechanical systems using SiC and TiNi shape memory alloy materials have been made between 1995 and 1997. Major advancements were made in the deposition of 3C-SiC on large-area substrates, the development of a SiC-based surface micromachining process, developments of SiC on insulator technologies, materials properties studies of both SiC and TiNi shape memory materials, and the fabrication of SiC and TiNi shape memory alloy-based micromechanical devices.
Impact of ACRIN DMIST Results on the Technologist and Mammography Practice

ACRIN DMIST was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and enrolled a total of 49,528 asymptomatic women to compare the performance of digital and screen-film mammography for screening. The study used a paired design in which each woman received both a digital and screen-film mammography examination performed by the same technologist in randomized order. Mammograms were interpreted independently by two radiologists. All relevant follow-up information including cancer status was available for 42,760 of the enrolled women (86.3%). For the full study population with complete follow up, the diagnostic accuracy of digital and screen-film mammography was similar, as assessed by ROC curve areas. For the overlapping subgroups of women under age 50, pre- or peri-menopausal women, and women with heterogeneously dense or extremely dense breasts, digital was found to be superior to screen-film mammography with statistical significance. The details of these results and their implications for your mammography practice are discussed.
The scaling of practice data

It is shown that in certain cases practice data approximately meet the assumptions involved in Thurstone's method of absolute scaling. An application of the method was accordingly made in the case of four test performances practiced for 39 days by a group of 56 subjects. The manner in which the practice data were scaled is described by using the data on practice in anagrams as an illustration. Scaling had little effect upon the correlations between initial and final score, but produced marked changes in the apparent effect of practice upon individual differences and in the correlations between initial score and gain.
Trends of transfusion transmissible diseases among blood donors at uttarakhand, India.

Context: Blood can save lives; however, it can be a source of transfusion transmitted diseases if proper screening of donated blood is not done. It is now mandatory to screen all donated blood units, whether replacement or voluntary for five transfusion transmitted diseases-namely human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and malaria. Aims: The present study was done to study the prevalence of infectious disease markers among donors at the blood bank of a tertiary care center. Settings and Design: A total of 53,069 donors donated blood over 11 years. The number of replacement and voluntary donors was 41,710 and 11,359, respectively. Materials and Methods: Screening of blood units was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for HIV and hepatitis B and C. HIV testing was done using fourth generation ELISA kits. Syphilis was tested by latex agglutination assay and malaria was tested using slide method up to the year 2008-2009 and by rapid immunochromatographic assay after that. Results: The mean percentage of these infections per year was found to be 0.2, 1.2, 0.9, 0.3, and 0.002% for HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and malarial parasite (MP), respectively. Conclusions: The risk of transfusion transmissible infection (TTI) today is low but supply of safe blood depends on proper donor selection and sensitive screening tests.
Nephrocalcinosis in children

Summary The causes of nephrocalcinosis and renal tubular calcification in children are reviewed and a case of nephrocalcinosis complicated by a Wilm's tumour in a child is reported.
The Universe Online

Modern science is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and the amount of scientific data is doubling every year ( 1 ). These data have sparked a revolution in the way astronomy is practiced. No longer are scientists forced to wait months for access to a telescope to learn about the night sky; instead, entire research projects can be accomplished with online data sources. Representing modern astronomy, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has made its entire data set available through an online portal for public use as an educational resource and to invite volunteer contributions to scientific research.
Mutation of archaeal isopentenyl phosphate kinase highlights mechanism and guides phosphorylation of additional isoprenoid monophosphates.

The biosynthesis of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) from either the mevalonate (MVA) or the 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) pathway provides the key metabolite for primary and secondary isoprenoid biosynthesis. Isoprenoid metabolism plays crucial roles in membrane stability, steroid biosynthesis, vitamin production, protein localization, defense and communication, photoprotection, sugar transport, and glycoprotein biosynthesis. Recently, an alternative branch of the MVA pathway was discovered in the archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii involving a small molecule kinase, isopentenyl phosphate kinase (IPK). IPK belongs to the amino acid kinase (AAK) superfamily. In vitro, IPK phosphorylates isopentenyl monophosphate (IP) in an ATP and Mg2+-dependent reaction producing IPP. Here, we describe crystal structures of IPK from M. jannaschii refined to nominal resolutions of 2.0−2.8 A. Notably, an active site histidine residue (His60) forms a hydrogen bond with the terminal phosphate of both substrate and pro...
Dual promoter control of the Escherichia coli lactose operon.

Abstract The control of transcription initiation at the lactose operon promoter was investigated in vitro. We found that an upstream promoter (termed lac P 2 ) interfered with RNA polymerase binding at the principal promoter (termed lac P 1 ). The start site for lac P 2 was located at base pair position −22 relative to the P 1 start site. The addition of cAMP receptor protein and cAMP was shown to repress lac P 2 and to activate lac P 1 . Abortive initiation reactions for both promoters were used to investigate the coordinate repression-activation elicited by CRP-cAMP. The effects of lac promoter mutations (L8, P 8 , and UV5) were consistent with an important RNA polymerase positioning role for CRP-cAMP in the activation of lac operon expression.
Genetic variation for prolidase (PEP-4) in the mouse maps near the gene for glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI-1) on chromosome 7.

An inherited electrophoretic variant of prolidase (EC 3.4.13.9), also called peptidase 4 (PEP-4), has been discovered among inbred strains of mice. Analysis of progeny from reciprocal backcrosses established that the electrophoretic forms are expressed codominantly and that Pep-4 is located between the genes for glucosephosphate isomerase (Gpi-1) and pink-eyed dilution (p) on chromosome 7. These data define a region of conserved gene linkage between mouse chromosome 7 and human chromosome 19, as originally indicated by somatic cell hybrid studies, and imply that human prolidase (PEPD) is located in the region of human chromosome 19 pter → q13.
Trends in copepod communities in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers, New Jersey: 1962–1992

The calanoid copepod community was surveyed semi-monthly, from May to July 1992, at three stations in the Navesink-Shrewsbury rivers system, the southernmost branch of the Hudson-Raritan estuary (New York-New Jersey). The dominant species collected during the survey wasAcartia hudsonica, followed byA. tonsa. A comparison of this survey with three earlier surveys suggests that the calanoid copepod community and relative abundance of dominant species have not changed substantially since the 1960s. Findings from a 1972 study, which noted the absence ofA. hudsonica andPseudodiaptomus coronatus as dominant species, were probably reflecting a temporary situation. The variations may have been related to a change in water quality, caused by an upgrade in sewage treatment, completed just prior to the 1972 survey, and/or resulted from the residual effects of Tropical Storm Agnes on this estuary.
Accurate estimation of standard errors when comparing simulated power functions

We propose a simple technique for accurately estimating standard errors when comparing simulated powers of two tests designed to detect the same alternative. The procedure incorporates the correlation between the competing test statistics to yield reduced estimates of standard error. As a result, desired precision can be achieved with fewer replications when comparing, correlated test statistics. The technique is applied to compare tests based on two popular rank correlation coefficients.
PCB intake from sport fishing along the northern Illinois shore of Lake Michigan.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chlorinated hydrocarbons with an empirical formula of C{sub 12}H{sub 10-x}Cl{sub x}. The biphenyl can have from one to 10 chlorine substitutions resulting in 209 theoretical congeners. Commercial formulations of PCBs are complex mixtures of congeners; 125 congeners have been identified in commercial formulations. PCBs have entered the aquatic environment by industrial discharge, airborne deposition, and release from sediments. The most likely route of non-occupational human exposure to PCBs is from consumption of contaminated fish. PCBs are considered to be the most important contaminants in fish from the Great Lakes. Hence, in 1993 the Great Lakes Fish and Advisory Task Force developed a fish consumption advisory for the Great Lakes which incorporated a Health Protection Value (HPV) of 3.5 {mu}g of PCBs/day. This study combines the creel species, weight, and length distribution data with PCB monitoring data to quantitate the theoretical intake of PCBs by sport fishermen in the Chicago area. 6 refs., 3 tabs.
TRESSA: Teamed robots for exploration and science on steep areas

Long-duration robotic missions on lunar and planetary surfaces (for example, the Mars Exploration Rovers have operated continuously on the Martian surface for close to 3 years) provide the opportunity to acquire scientifically interesting information from a diverse set of surface and subsurface sites and to explore multiple sites in greater detail. Exploring a wide range of terrain types, including plains, cliffs, sand dunes, and lava tubes, requires the development of robotic systems with mobility enhanced beyond that which is currently fielded. These systems include single as well as teams of robots. TRESSA (Teamed Robots for Exploration and Science on Steep Areas) is a closely coupled three-robot team developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) that previously demonstrated the ability to drive on soil-covered slopes up to 70 deg. In this paper, we present results from field demonstrations of the TRESSA system in even more challenging terrain: rough rocky slopes of up to 85 deg. In addition, the integration of a robotic arm and instrument suite has allowed TRESSA to demonstrate semi-autonomous science investigation of the cliffs and science sample collection. TRESSA successfully traversed cliffs and collected samples at three Mars analog sites in Svalbard, Norway as part of a recent geological and astrobiological field investigation called AMASE: Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition under the NASA ASTEP (Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets) program. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Model of a single mode energy harvester and properties for optimal power generation

The process of acquiring the energy surrounding a system and converting it into usable electrical energy is termed power harvesting. In the last few years, the field of power harvesting has experienced significant growth due to the ever increasing desire to produce portable and wireless electronics with extended life. Current portable and wireless devices must be designed to include electrochemical batteries as the power source. The use of batteries can be troublesome due to their finite energy supply, which necessitates their periodic replacement. In the case of wireless sensors that are to be placed in remote locations, the sensor must be easily accessible or of disposable nature to allow the device to function over extended periods of time. Energy scavenging devices are designed to capture the ambient energy surrounding the electronics and covert it into usable electrical energy. The concept of power harvesting works towards developing self-powered devices that do not require replaceable power supplies. The development of energy harvesting systems is greatly facilitated by an accurate model to assist in the design of the system. This paper will describe a theoretical model of a piezoelectric based energy harvesting system that is simple to apply yet provides an accurate prediction of the power generated around a single mode of vibration. Furthermore, this model will allow optimization of system parameters to be studied such that maximal performance can be achieved. Using this model an expression for the optimal resistance and a parameter describing the energy harvesting efficiency will be presented and evaluated through numerical simulations. The second part of this paper will present an experimental validation of the model and optimal parameters.
Kerstersia gyiorum Isolated from a Bronchoalveolar Lavage in a Patient with a Chronic Tracheostomy

The use of the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) generates rapid microbial identification. We are presenting a case of a 63-year-old woman with a medical history of chronic tracheostomy admitted for hypotension and fevers to illustrate the clinical implication of MALDI-TOF MS on bacterial identification. Kerstersia gyiorum was identified from the bronchoalveolar lavage isolate. Kerstersia gyiorum has been isolated from human sputum samples, and may be a previously unrecognized colonizer of the upper respiratory tract. Thus, patients with long-term tracheotomies or who are chronically aspirating may be at risk of lower respiratory infection with this organism. Increased use of MALDI-TOF MS in the clinical setting may increase reporting of this atypical isolate.
Population genetic analysis of Helicobacter pylori by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis: Extensive allelic diversity and recombinational population structure

Genetic diversity and relationships in 74 Helicobacter pylori isolates recovered from patients assigned to distinct clinical categories were estimated by examination of allelic variation in six genes encoding metabolic housekeeping enzymes by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Seventy-three distinct allele profiles, representing multilocus chromosomal genotypes, were identified. All six loci were highly polymorphic, with an average of 11.2 alleles per locus. The mean genetic diversity in the sample was 0.735, a value that exceeds the level of diversity recorded in virtually all bacterial species studied by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. A high frequency of occurrence of null alleles (lack of enzyme activity) was identified and warrants further investigation at the molecular level. Lack of linkage disequilibrium (nonrandom association (of alleles over loci) indicates that horizontal transfer and recombination of metabolic enzyme genes have contributed to the generation of chromosomal diversity in H. pylori. In this sample of isolates, there was no statistically significant association of multilocus enzyme electrophoretic types or cluster of related chromosomal types and disease category.
Snowflakes, Living Systems, and the Mystery of Giftedness

The main argument of this article is that human living systems are open, dynamic, intentional systems and, therefore, are capable of building ever more complex behaviors through self-organization and self-direction. This principle underlying general human development is also applicable to the development of gifted and talented behaviors. These behaviors are dynamic because persons demonstrating such behaviors are forming dynamic, functional relations with a specific environment, with unique temporal trajectories capable of engendering emergent properties that feed into further development. This Contextual, Emergent, and Dynamic Model provides an alternative to traditional static, reductionistic, trait-based conceptions of giftedness. The article further elaborates on three dynamic facets of the making of gifted potential: selective affinity, maximal grip, and being at the edge of chaos. These facets allow for dealing with the genesis of talents, developing expertise over an extended period, and developing creative potential.
MutS homologue hMSH5: role in cisplatin-induced DNA damage response

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II), CDDP) and its analogues constitute an important class of anticancer drugs in the treatment of various malignancies; however, its effectiveness is frequently affected by mutations in genes involved in the repair and signaling of cisplatin-induced DNA damage. These observations necessitate a need for a better understanding of the molecular events governing cellular sensitivity to cisplatin. Here, we show that hMSH5 mediates sensitization to cisplatin-induced DNA damage in human cells. Our study indicates that hMSH5 undergoes cisplatin-elicited protein induction and tyrosine phosphorylation. Silencing of hMSH5 by RNAi or expression of hMSH5 phosphorylation-resistant mutant hMSH5Y742F elevates cisplatin-induced G2 arrest and renders cells susceptible to cisplatin toxicity at clinically relevant doses. In addition, our data show that cisplatin promotes hMSH5 chromatin association and hMSH5 deficiency increases cisplatin-triggered γ-H2AX foci. Consistent with a possible role for hMSH5 in recombinational repair of cisplatin-triggered double-strand breaks (DSBs), the formation of cisplatin-induced hMSH5 nuclear foci is hRad51-dependent. Collectively, our current study has suggested a role for hMSH5 in the processing of cisplatin-induced DSBs, and silencing of hMSH5 may provide a new means to improve the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoproteins That Lack Cytoplasmic Domain Cysteines: Impact on Association with Membrane Lipid Rafts and Incorporation onto Budding Virus Particles

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope comprises a surface gp120 and a transmembrane gp41. The cytoplasmic domain of gp41 contains cysteine residues (C764 and C837) which are targets for palmitoylation and were reported to be required for envelope association with lipid rafts and assembly on budding virions (I. Rousso, M. B. Mixon, B. K. Chen, and P. S. Kim, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:13523-13525, 2000). Several infectious HIV-1 clones contain envelopes that have no gp41 cytoplasmic cysteines. Since no other gp41 amino acid is a target for palmitoylation, these clones imply that palmitoylation is not essential for envelope trafficking and assembly. Here, we show that HIV-1 envelope mutants that lack gp41 cytoplasmic cysteines are excluded from light lipid rafts. Envelopes that contained residues with bulky hydrophobic side chains instead of cysteines retained their association with heavy rafts and were nearly fully functional for incorporation into virions and infectivity. Substitution of cysteines with alanines or serines eliminated raft association and more severely reduced envelope incorporation onto virions and their infectivity. Nevertheless, the A764/A837 mutant envelope retained nearly 40% infectivity compared to the wild type, even though this envelope was excluded from lipid rafts. Our results demonstrate that gp41 cytoplasmic cysteines that are targets for palmitoylation and are required for envelope trafficking to classical lipid rafts are not essential for HIV-1 replication.
Hierarchical Data Processing Model and Complete Tree Key Management Mechanism

Logical key tree is an important issue for multicast key management. The degree of a tree and the algorithm which maintains the balance has great effect on the multicast key management. The paper makes an analysis on the key tree degree with using hierarchical data processing model. The complete quad tree is taken as the logical structure of the key management, and the rebuilding algorithm of a complete logical key tree is based on the idea of subtree movement so that the external cost which caused by the tree balancing can be reduced. This paper gives the designing idea, analyzes and devises the realization algorithms, and constructs a practical complete tree key management scheme. The analysis shows that this scheme is simple to realize and the cost is still low, being applicable to the situation where the group size is enormous and the changing of the group is frequent.
Gene therapy for human bypass grafts.

Autologous saphenous vein is the conduit of choice for the bypass of arterial occlusive disease, be it in the peripheral arterial tree or in the coronary system. This technique is limited by primary graft failure rates approaching 20% in the first year for peripheral arterial disease and 50% at 10 years for coronary artery bypass grafting. The PREVENT trial describes a novel, safe and effective means of ex vivo transfection of harvested vein grafts with an E2F decoy oligonucleotide, with 70–74% decreases in the level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and c-myc mRNA expressed by the smooth muscle cells in the vein. This translated into a statistically significant reduction in primary graft failure when used to bypass peripheral arterial occlusions in a high-risk human patient population.