cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-tensioning and splicing of precast/prestressed bridge beams to extend spans

This paper explores the status and techniques of post-tensioning and splicing precast concrete I-beams in bridge applications. It will look at the current practices that have been used in the United States and comment on the advantages of these techniques. Representative projects are presented to demonstrate the application and success of specific methods used. To demonstrate the benefits of using post-tensioning and splicing to extend spans, multiple analysis of simple span post-tensioned I-beams were performed varying such characteristics as beam spacing, beam sections, beam depth and concrete strength. Tables were then developed to compare the maximum span length of a prestressed I-beam versus a one segment or a spliced three segment post-tensioned I-beam. The lateral stability of the beam during fabrication, transportation and erection is also examined and discussed. These tables are intended to aid designers and owners in preliminary project studies to determine if post-tensioning can be beneficial to their situation. AASHTO Standard Specifications(2) will be used as basic guidelines and specifications. In many cases, post-tensioning was found to extend the maximum span length of a typical 72-inch precast I-beam more than 40 feet over conventional prestress.
Fundamental control characteristics of curvilinear motion in human and automatic path tracking tasks

This paper describes fundamental path tracking control performance characteristics for curvilinear motion based on the nonlinear dynamics. Curvilinear motion is ubiquitous to many human behaviors and engineering applications. The results provide essential insights about vehicle control requirements, aerial and ground robots, as well as for understanding human guidance and control skills. The paper describes the theoretical analysis and illustrates the fundamental properties through simulations and follows with two examples based on empirical data. The first example is based on the design specifications for different alpine skiing disciplines. The second example is based on results from closed-loop identification of a miniature helicopter path tracking experiment under both human and automatic control. The results validate the path tracking adaptation strategy suggested by analysis and demonstrate the general significance of the results.
Disorder-Activated Acoustic Mode in Raman Spectrum of Ga x Al 1-x As

We report the observation of an acoustic phonon mode, usually not Raman active, which is interpreted here as a disorder-activated longitudinal acoustic mode. Because of good matching of lattice constants and nearest-neighbor force constants in the alloy system ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{x}{\mathrm{Al}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}$, a simple theory has been successfully applied to obtain information on the electronic states.
Adults' recollections of their experiences as young caregivers of family members with chronic physical illnesses.

Adults’ recollections of their experiences as young caregivers of family members with chronic physical illnesses Aims of the study. The aims of this study were to describe the number, kind, and intensity of caregiving activities performed by individuals who assumed caregiving responsibilities, as youngsters, for adults with chronic physical illnesses; to explore the meaning and effects of the caregiving experience on those individuals; and to examine positive and negative effects of caregiving then and now. Background/Rationale. Family mobility, demographic changes, and health care system changes in the United States of America (USA) have contributed to an increasing number of youngsters under the age of 18 caring for adults with chronic physical illnesses in the home. The effects of such caregiving on youngsters and the long-term effects on them as adults require study. Design/Methods. This descriptive, retrospective study had a convenience sample of 51 adults (age range 19–68 years now, 3–19 years then) who cared for their family members diagnosed with cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, respiratory disease, diabetes, or arthritis. Demographic data and caregiving data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The semistructured interview data were analysed using content analysis. Results/Findings. Of the caregiving care tasks most frequently performed, personal care was most difficult and household tasks were most time consuming. Family life, school, and time with friends were areas most likely to be affected by caregiving. Most subjects indicated they would permit their own children to assist with care as long as the youngster was not the sole caregiver. Youngsters need to be informed about the illness and caregiving tasks, have adequate support systems, and have some time to ‘still be a child’. Conclusions. Professional caregivers should raise questions in their practice regarding involvement in caregiving by both adults and youngsters. If youngsters participate in caregiving in the home, they need to receive adequate information regarding care and the illness trajectory. Family-related research including the long-term effects of such experiences on the youngsters and their families is recommended.
Let's Go! School Nutrition Workgroups: Regional Partnerships for Improving School Meals

Abstract This report describes a regional approach for improving the nutritional quality of school meals and increasing the selection of healthier foods. Let's Go! is a childhood obesity prevention program that establishes regional workgroups to develop innovative solutions to improve school meal programs. Let's Go! fosters collaborative decision making, specifically addressing the feasibility of proposed strategies, differences in school environments, and level of readiness for change. This approach led to 77 schools achieving the HealthierUS School Challenge and 130 schools implementing Smarter Lunchrooms techniques in school year 2011–2012. Communities nationwide could use a similar approach to improve school meals.
Sterile mediastinal gas mimicking abscess in aortic aneurysm repair

Six weeks after aortic aneurysm repair, computed tomography (CT) showed mediastinal gas where absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam) was used. A leukocyte scan labeled with indium 111, however, was normal and surgical exploration showed no infection. Sterile gas collections may be seen following absorbable gelatin sponge use many weeks after surgery and 111In-labeled leukocyte scanning may be a useful differential test.
Altered expression of immune modulator and structural genes in neonatal unilateral ureteral obstruction

Altered expression of immune modulator and structural genes in neonatal unilateral ureteral obstruction. Background Congenital obstructive nephropathy is a condition characterized by hydronephrosis, tubular dilatation, apoptosis, and atrophy, as well as interstitial cellular infiltration and progressive interstitial fibrosis. The renal consequences of chronic unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in the neonatal rat are similar to those of clinical congenital obstructive nephropathy. Methods To define alterations in renal gene expression induced by chronic neonatal UUO, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to UUO or sham operation within the first 2days of life, and kidneys were harvested after 12days. Results Microarray analysis revealed that the mRNA expression of multiple immune modulators, including krox24, interferon-γ regulating factor-1 (IRF-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), p21, c-fos, c-jun, and pJunB, was significantly increased in obstructed compared to sham-operated kidneys (all P P = 0.0004), IRF-1 ( P = 0.005), MCP-1 ( P = 0.01), and JunD ( P = 0.0008). Alternatively, the abundance of all of the immune modulator proteins was similar in sham-operated and obstructed kidneys in rats subjected to acute (4days) neonatal UUO. Microarray analysis studies also reveal that structural genes that comprise the cytoskeleton and cell matrix are significantly up-regulated by chronic neonatal UUO, including calponin, desmin, dynamin, and lumican (all P Conclusion Multiple genes are aberrantly expressed in the kidney of rats subjected to chronic neonatal UUO. Elucidation of these genes involved in neonatal UUO may lead to new insight about congenital obstructive nephropathy.
Running as Both a Positive and Negative Reinforcer

Rats were required to press a bar to activate a motor-driven wheel that forced them to run and subsequently to drink to turn off the wheel. Barpressing and lickilng increased, showing the onset and offset of running to be positively and negatively reinforcing, respectively. The experimental control of the offset of running, in contrast to the traditional control for onset only, served to demonstrate that since organisms stop such behaviors as they start, self-initiated behaviors will act as negative as well as positive reinforcers.
Rituximab in immunologic glomerular diseases

Experimental data suggest that the B-cell antigen CD20 may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of many diseases including glomerular diseases. These and other findings underpin the central concept of B-cell-depleting therapies that target CD20 antigen as treatments for lupus nephritis, idiopathic membranous nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, cryglobulinemic glomerulonephritis, antibody mediated renal allograft rejection and recurrent glomerulonephritis in renal allograft. Use of rituximab as a B-cell depleting therapy has been associated with clinical improvement and has emerged as a possible adjunct or alternative treatment option in this field of nephrology.
Vacancy relaxation energies in metal crystal slabs

Abstract The method of lattice statics has been used to calculate the relaxation energies of single vacancies centered in copper crystals with two free (001) surfaces. The vacancy host-lattice atom interactions were described by a Born-Mayer potential between first (nn) and second (nnn) neighbors while the remainder of the crystal was described by a rotationally-invariant dynamical matrix which included both central and angular forces between nn and nnn. Provisions for varying the coupling between nn in the first and second layers at the surfaces were included. We found that relaxation energies are lower for crystal slabs than for crystals without free surfaces. The slab values asymptotically approach the bulk values, with some dependence upon the surface coupling parameters and the range of the defect host-lattice atom interactions, as the slab thickness is increased. The results of this work show that defect formation energies for atoms near the surface of macroscopic crystals will be lower with respect to defects in the bulk. This effect should be even more pronounced as the range of the defect host-lattice atom interactions is increased.
Church Sponsored Child Care: Association of Regulatory Level with Quality

Multiple types of child care are exempt from government licensure or regulation in the United States, yet previous research has shown that stricter adherence to regulatory standards predicts higher quality programs. This study compares global child care quality and teacher-child interaction quality in church-sponsored child care centers that are legally-exempt from licensure and operate at three regulatory levels. Observations were completed in 59 church-sponsored, center-based child care programs. Centers that voluntarily followed stricter levels of regulation had higher quality. The findings have implications for policymakers and legislators who create and implement child care standards and subsidy policies.
Natural-Language Interface for CAD: A First Step

Though the ubiquity of CAD tools in state-of-the-art VLSI design has forced the issue of user interfaces for CAD to prominence, one type of user interface that has not been investigated hitherto is the naturallanquage interface. The CAD domain is substantially more complex than the domains for which previous natural-language interfaces have been built. This implies that a natural-language interface for CAD cannot be based on previous approaches to language understanding; a new approach is required. Our approach emphasizes flexibility, parallelism, and redundancy, and is embodied in an interface called Cleopatra. Ultimately, Cleopatra will be an interface for an ?integrated design environment.? As a first step towards that goal, but also as a useful tool in its own right, Cleopatra currently deals with circuit-simulation post-processing.
The Interactive Effects of Effort to Regulate Alcohol Use, Anxiety Disorders, and Affective Disorders on Long-Term Remission from Alcohol Dependence.

Objective: This study examined how effort to regulate alcohol use may interact with anxiety and affective disorders to influence long-term remission from alcohol dependence.Method: Using participants (n = 96; 73% male; 66% children of alcoholics; 71% non-Hispanic Caucasian; 26% Hispanic) from a high-risk community study who showed evidence of recovered alcohol dependence at baseline, this study examined whether effort to regulate alcohol use at the baseline assessment significantly influenced the likelihood of maintaining remission from alcohol dependence for a period of five years or more. This study also examined whether having an anxiety or affective disorder interacted with effort to regulate alcohol use. All analyses controlled for treatment history, baseline alcohol use, parent alcoholism, age and gender.Results: Results from logistic regressions showed that effort to regulate alcohol use had a significant unique main effect on long-term maintenance of remission from alcohol dependence. Having an af...
Importance of Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT) in Cord Blood: Causes of DAT (+) in a Cohort Study

Background The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is the cornerstone of the diagnosis of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). The aim of this study was to review the incidence and causes of positive DAT in cord blood in relation to development of HDN. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all results of DAT, which is routinely performed in cord blood samples, along with the laboratory and infants' medical records. Results DAT was positive in 70/2695 (2.59%) cases. In 64/70 (91.43%) cases, DAT positivity was attributed to ABO incompatibility. There were 50/218 (22.93%) DAT (+) cases in the A/O group and 13/97 (13.40%) cases in the B/O group ( p = 0.0664). Two DAT (+) cases were attributed to maternal alloimmunization (anti-Fya and anti-JKb, respectively), and one to maternal IgG autoantibodies that developed after methyldopa treatment. Among the 70 DAT (+) cases, 30 (42.86%) cases required phototherapy with no difference between the A/O and B/O groups. The duration of phototherapy in the B/O group was significantly longer than in the A/O group ( p = 0.024). There was a trend of correlation of increasing strength of DAT positivity with phototherapy need. No false positive DAT case was detected. Conclusions Although ABO incompatibility remains the main reason of DAT (+), other causes (e.g., alloimmunization, drugs) should also be explored. The relevant impact of DAT (+) on HDN development should be considered.
Review Article: Appendicitis In Groin Hernias

To review the clinical presentation, outcome and causes of acute appendicitis presenting within a groin hernia. A comprehensive review of the past 70 years of English language surgical literature was conducted pertaining to acute appendicitis presenting within an inguinal or femoral hernia. Thirty-four reports describing 45 patients were reviewed to determine age, position, gender, pathologic stage at presentation, causal suppositions, and clinical outcomes. Hernial appendicitis presented as an inguinal abscess or a tender inguinal mass, often in the femoral position, and most commonly at the extremes of age. It was almost never recognized preoperatively, and, because of the sequestered nature of the inflammatory process, presented with few classic systemic signs or symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis. Advanced pathologic stage and death correlated with the patient’s age, delay in presentation, and delay in recognition. Evaluation of an inguinal abscess or a nonreducible tender groin hernia presenting in a patient at the extremes of age, should include computed tomography to rule out an occult acute appendicitis within the hernia, as systemic signs and symptoms of appendicitis are rarely evident. The condition appears to be caused by inflammatory adhesions caused by appendicitis occurring within an enlarged hernial orifice rather than appendicitis caused by external compression of the appendix base. Early recognition of this unique presentation of appendicitis allows trans-hernial appendectomy and immediate herniorraphy. Delayed diagnosis requires drainage of abscess with appendectomy and interval hernia repair.
The Five Cs Model of Positive Youth Development: A Longitudinal Analysis of Confirmatory Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance

The understanding of positive development across adolescence rests on having a valid and equivalent measure of this construct across the breadth of this period of life. Does the Positive Youth Development (PYD) construct based on the Five Cs model have satisfactory psychometric properties for such longitudinal measurement invariance? Using longitudinal data derived from the 4-H Study of PYD, we assessed 920 youth (61.6% female) from a racially and ethically diverse sample (67.3% European American) who participated in three waves (Grades 8-10) of data collection. Building on prior findings that the Five Cs (i.e., Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring) model of PYD was a robust measure that could be assessed comparably during early adolescence, we tested a hierarchy of second-order confirmatory factor analysis models to assess the extent to which PYD can be measured equivalently across middle adolescence. Evidence was found for strict measurement invariance across three measurement occasions, including equivalence of first-order and second-order factor loadings, equality of intercepts of observed variables, and equality of item uniqueness and disturbances of the first-order factors. These results suggest that PYD can be measured in the same way across measurement occasions, a prerequisite for the study of development. Implications for research and application of being able to measure PYD equivalently across adolescence are discussed.
A low-cost system for capturing and analyzing the motion of aquatic organisms

AbstractCapture and quantitative analysis of the motion of organisms is a powerful tool that can be used in diverse biological fields including physiology, behavior, kinematics, and ecology. A number of high-end commercial motion capture and analysis systems that offer a wide array of features and image capture and analysis capabilities are available. However, few, if any, such systems are low cost and could be used for projects with small budgets or by researchers interested in collecting pilot data before upgrading to an expensive motion capture and analysis system. Our paper describes a low-cost (<$US1000, not including the cost of the computer) motion capture and analysis system that simultaneously captures live video from 5 digital video cameras (Unibrain Fire-i FireWire [IEEE 1394]) using standard security camera software (SecuritySpy 1.3.1). The video analyses are carried out using a combination of standard spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel) and a freeware image-analysis program (NIH Image J), ...
A dose-response study of the effect of flutamide on benign prostatic hyperplasia : results of a multicenter study

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy, safety, and dose-response profiles of four dosing schemes of flutamide over 24 weeks. Methods Patients were randomized to receive one of the following five treatment regimens for a period of 24 weeks: placebo capsule, flutamide capsules 125 mg twice daily, 250 mg once daily, 250 mg twice daily, and 250 mg three times daily. Patients were then evaluated at baseline (0 weeks) and at 4, 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after the start of treatment, and 8 weeks after the end of treatment (32 weeks). Evaluation of efficacy was performed by noting changes in urine flow rate, residual urine volume, symptom score, prostate volume, and prostate-specific antigen level. A total of 372 patients were enrolled into the study at 32 centers 14 centers in the United States and 18 international centers. Results Baseline peak urinary flow rate and percent change from baseline in maximum flow rate showed a dose-related increase at 4 and 6 weeks; this increase was significant in the 250 mg three times daily group. At later time points, no significant differences between the flutamide and placebo groups were observed, largely because of the decreasing number of evaluable patients. At 4 and 6 weeks, 25% of patients in the 250 mg three times daily group had more than 3 cc/s increase in uroflow compared to about 10% of placebo patients ( P P P Conclusions Flutamide reduced the prostate volume in a dose-related fashion and resulted in an increase in peak flow rate at 4 weeks (3% for 250 mg three times daily, P value P
Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 -x Laser-Ablation Plume Dynamics Measurement By Nanosecond Response Ion Probe: Comparison With Optical Measurements.

A family of fast time response ion probes has been developed to study the laser-ablation plume dynamics under Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x film-growth conditions. These probes are useful over a wide range of pressures, distances, laser energies, and energy densities. The ion probe measurements are complemented and corroborated by measurements using spatially and temporally resolved optical emission and absorption spectroscopy. The results confirm a long lived ionized component to the plume and a marked slowing of the plasma front at film deposition pressures and distances. Both the ion probe and spectroscopic techniques show promise as sensitive process monitors for film deposition by laser ablation.
A Study of the Weathering Characteristics of Cotton Fabrics Containing Inorganic Compounds: Part I: Chromic Oxide and Copper in Inorganic and Organic Forms

A study has been made of the effect of outdoor weathering on unbleached and bleached cotton duck treated with (a) oxides of chromium and iron and copper carbonate, singly and in mix tures, (b) oxides of chromium and iron aftertreated with copper-containing organic fungicides —viz., copper naphthenate, copper 8-hydroxyquinolinolate, and the copper salt of dehydroabietyl amine—and (c) chromic oxide, copper 8-hydroxyquinolinolate, and mixtures of these. A limited amount of data has been obtained with the above-mentioned inorganic treatments on lightweight cellulosic fabrics.The data have confirmed previous observations to the effect that the presence of chromium and copper, in inorganic form, confers marked protection against actinic breakdown of the cellu lose and also prevents the severe loss of copper which, in the absence of chromium, occurs during weathering. These effects were also noted, in lesser degree, with chromium-treated fabrics after treated with copper-containing organic fungicides. The lightw...
Bone lipids of kona coast reef fish: Skull buoyancy in the hawkfish, Cirrhites pinnulatus

Abstract 1. 1. Four shallow Kona Coast reef fish were analyzed for spine and skull lipids. Two of these fish, the hawkfish, Cirrhites pinnulatus , and the wrasse, Cheilinus rhodochrous , had oil-filled bones containing 52–90% lipid (% dry weight). 2. 2. The oil-filled skull of the hawkfish is more buoyant than its body, which relates to the animal's mode of life on the coral reef. 3. 3. Triglyceride was the major oil in these bones ranging from 85 to 96% of the lipid. The major triglyceride fatty acids are 16:0, 18:1, 14:0, and 16:1. 4. 4. Cholesterol and phospholipids were minor components of the lipid in all fish studied. 5. 5. The goatfish, Parapeneus multifasciatus , and the squirrelfish, Holocentrus ensifer , had lesser amounts of bone oil; from 4 to 14% lipid (% dry weight).
Phase Behavior of Carbon Dioxide + 1,2-Epoxycyclohexane Mixtures

The two-phase boundaries of mixtures of carbon dioxide and 1,2-epoxycyclohexane (cyclohexene oxide) were determined at 343 K, 363 K, 383 K, and 405 K for cyclohexene oxide mole fractions of 0.02 < x2 < 0.65. The bubble/dew points were determined visually in a windowed, variable volume, high-pressure cell during isothermal expansions and compressions of mixtures of known overall composition. Pressure−composition diagrams were constructed from the experimental data, and the critical points of the mixtures were determined for each temperature from these phase diagrams. Although the Peng−Robinson equation of state slightly overestimated the critical pressure, an excellent fit of the remainder of the bubble and dew point data was obtained with a binary interaction parameter of 0.05. Anomalous phase behavior, in the form of remarkably high dew point data, was observed at 383 K and 405 K. 1H NMR results of the cyclohexene oxide from these experiments suggest that this was due to the formation of poly(cyclohexene...
COSTS OF RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION: METHODS AND MODELS FOR ESTIMATION

Transportation infrastructure and other major projects often require the taking of real property, or right-of-way (ROW). Accurate estimation procedures are needed to facilitate budgeting and timely completion of projects. The costs of partial takings, commercial properties, remainder damages, court costs, utility relocations, and other ROW-related items are difficult to anticipate. Hedonic price models and large sample data analysis may be useful tools to help agencies track and predict ROW costs and the likelihood of damages. Hedonic price models for estimation of costs associated with taking property are proposed using recent acquisition data from several Texas corridors and full-parcel commercial sales transactions in Texas’ largest regions. Results indicate that damages depend heavily on parking, access, and location, the size of the taking is not as important as the value of improvements, and utility costs are highly variable. For the commercial property value models, improvement square footage and t...
Model reduction and energy function analysis of power systems using singular perturbation techniques

This paper reviews some recent results in applying singular perturbation theory to obtain simplified power system models for stability analysis and control design. The topics include synchronous machine modeling, slow coherency and dynamic equivalencing of large power networks, and transient stability analysis using direct methods. The objective is to introduce power system engineers to singular perturbation methods as a tool for providing additional insights into power system dynamics of different time scales and for analytically deriving reduced models.
Space savings and design considerations in variable length deduplication

Explosion of data growth and duplication of data in enterprises has led to the deployment of a variety of deduplication technologies. However not all deduplication technologies serve the needs of every workload. Most prior research in deduplication concentrates on fixed block size (or variable block size at a fixed block boundary) deduplication which provides sub-optimal space efficiency in workloads where the duplicate data is not block aligned. Workloads also differ in the nature of operations and their priorities thereby affecting the choice of the right flavor of deduplication. Object workloads for instance, hold multiple versions of archived documents that have a high degree of duplicate data. They are also write-once read-many in nature and follow a whole object GET, PUT and DELETE model and would be better served by a deduplication strategy that takes care of nonblock aligned changes to data.In this paper, we describe and evaluate a hybrid of a variable length and block based deduplication that is hierarchical in nature. We are motivated by the following insights from real world data: (a) object workload applications do not do in-place modification of data and hence new versions of objects are written again as a whole (b) significant amount of data among different versions of the same object is shareable but the changes are usually not block aligned. While the second point is the basis for variable length technique, both the above insights motivate our hierarchical deduplication strategy.We show through experiments with production data-sets from enterprise environments that this provides up to twice the space savings compared to a fixed block deduplication.
The Accuracy of Point-of-Care Glucose Measurements

Control of blood glucose (BG) in an acceptable range is a major therapy target for diabetes patients in both the hospital and outpatient environments. This review focuses on the state of point-of-care (POC) glucose monitoring and the accuracy of the measurement devices. The accuracy of the POC glucose monitor depends on device methodology and other factors, including sample source and collection and patient characteristics. Patient parameters capable of influencing measurements include variations in pH, blood oxygen, hematocrit, changes in microcirculation, and vasopressor therapy. These elements alone or when combined can significantly impact BG measurement accuracy with POC glucose monitoring devices (POCGMDs). In general, currently available POCGMDs exhibit the greatest accuracy within the range of physiological glucose levels but become less reliable at the lower and higher ranges of BG levels. This issue raises serious safety concerns and the importance of understanding the limitations of POCGMDs. This review will discuss potential interferences and shortcomings of the current POCGMDs and stress when these may impact the reliability of POCGMDs for clinical decision-making.
Differential genomic imprinting of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens in the placenta of the rat.

The RTI.A and Pa (class I) loci in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the rat are genomically imprinted in the placenta, since only the paternally derived antigens are expressed. To determine whether the RTI.E (class I) locus, which defines the end of the MHC opposite RT.A, is genomically imprinted in the placenta, two different types of crosses were studied: all possible mating combinations of the DA (A'E - ) and WF (AUEu) inbred strains and various matings of the R16 (A'E-), R33 (A'EU), and R34 (A'E - ) congenic recombinant strains. The results showed that the Eu locus was not imprinted. Thus, genomic imprinting can be different at two endogenous loci that are part of a multigene family in tight-linkage disequilibrium. The lack of E" imprinting is not due to the locus' being monomorphic, since the monomorphic Pa locus is imprinted, and it is most probably not due to its distance from the imprinted RT1.A and Pa loci (0.4 cM). We suggest that the control of the imprinting may lie in the physical structure of the DNA proximate to the imprinted locus.
‘Curly nails’-an unusual side-effect of etretinate

Curly fingernails developed in a 35-year-old female during etretinate therapy (0.25 mg/kg per day) given for chronic palmoplantar pustulosis. Before treatment some of the fingernails showed slight distal onycholysis without dystrophy or irregularity of the nail plate. The suggested mechanism of this phenomenon is a stimulatory effect on nail growth rate expressed on normal matrix differentially from matrix with pre-existing pathology.
Integrating health services: the experience of NGOs in Ethiopia

Many non-governmental organizations (NGO) remained in the Wollo region of Ethiopia following famine relief and emergency medical service efforts of 1984-85. Since then these organizations have helped identify strategies and processes needed to implement Ministry of Health (MOH) policies especially in the area of integrated maternal-child/curative health services. This paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of 4 broad approaches to health development adopted by the NGOs over the post-famine relief period of 1986-88 and considers further strategic adaptation in later years. Under the themes of direct management clinic adoption impact area and air-drop resources earlier NGO approaches largely suffered poor sustainability non-replicability and inefficient use of resources. Moreover these approaches distracted the MOH from pursuing its own viable approaches effectively stymieing the development of district and regional health systems. Later NGO approaches support improvements in the MOHs priority health programs through the provision of technical and material assistance for analyzing developing and implementing improved systems of district health management and care. NGOs wishing to adapt their existing programs into a comparable health systems approach should build upon existing relationships with the MOH in support of district and regional health services foster skill development among indigenous health personnel seek avenues to improve efficiency and promote activity-based training and regional and district health team management.
Linearized inversion of scatterometric data to obtain surface profile information

Optical diffraction has been demonstrated to be a useful method with which to noninvasively examine materials and structures that result from lithographic processes used in the semiconductor indus- try to create integrated circuits. The process of inferring the geometry of the lithographically created structures from measurements of diffracted power is rather difficult, due to the highly nonlinear relationship between the properties of the diffracting structure and the diffraction measure- ments. To simplify this process, we describe a method that is based on determining the departures from a set of expected design values. We show that this method linearizes the otherwise highly nonlinear relation- ship between structure parameter values and diffraction measurements, and hence permits analyses using classical linear methods. We develop a linearized inversion technique to determine key parameters of a peri- odic structure from an analysis of diffraction data, and illustrate the pro- posed method for the retrieval of three geometrical parameters (groove depth, linewidth, and sidewall slope angle), both individually and to- gether. We tested our method using simulated measurements of power diffracted by the grating, which were generated using rigorous coupled- wave theory. We show that our inversion algorithm predicts the correct value of these three parameters for a variety of geometrical configura- tions. © 2002 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.
A design-first curriculum for teaching Java in a CS1 course

Pedagogies for teaching object-oriented programming in an introductory course are still under much debate. We present a design-first approach, which teaches problem-solving techniques using elements of UML. Objects are still introduced early in the curriculum. We also present two tools to support our curriculum: multimedia courseware to help students learn the basic concepts of objects and classes, and an IDE that includes both a UML interface and interactive tools to allow easy experimentation.
Design of an On-Chip Nanoscale Clock Powered by a Biomolecular Motor Protein

The integration of inorganic systems with biomolecular systems presents many challenges. Not only must several interfaces which preserve the activity of the biomolecule be designed, but also methods of characterizing the properties of the individual biomolecule to verify its activity must be specified. The design and progress in the fabrication of a photonic clock which is driven by a single biomolecular motor protein are described. This local oscillator is comprised of a circular DNA template which is driven by the biomolecular motor T7 RNA polymerase. A fluorescent reporter base incorporated into the DNA template provides the reporter function. Several external factors, which influence the rate of the transcription reaction, can be used to vary the frequency and duration of the oscillation.
Giving Birth Like A Girl

Relational, selfless, caring, polite, nice, and kind are not how we imagine a woman giving birth in U.S. culture. Rather, we picture her as screaming, yelling, self-centered, and demanding drugs or occasionally as numbed and passive from pain-killing medication. Using in-depth interviews with women about their labor and childbirth, the author presents data to suggest that white, middle-class, heterosexual women often worry about being nice, polite, kind, and selfless in their interactions during labor and childbirth. This finding is important not only because it contradicts the dominant cultural image of the birthing woman but because it reveals that an internalized sense of gender plays a role in disciplining women and their bodies during childbirth. The feminist sociological literatures on birth are concerned with how women and their bodies are controlled, yet they have overlooked this other dimension of control that is not institutional but is a product of how gender is internalized.
Respirometric Profiling of Muscle Mitochondria and Blood Cells Are Associated With Differences in Gait Speed Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background. Gait speed pro vides an integrated measure of physical ability that is predictive of morbidity, disability, and mortality in older adults. Energy demands associated with walking suggest that mitochondrial bioenergetics may play a role in gait speed. Here, we examined the relationship between gait speed and skeletal muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics, and further evaluated whether blood-based bioenergetic profiling might have similar associations with gait speed. Methods. P articipants in this study were comprised of two subsets (n = 17 per subset) and were overweight/obese (body mass index, 30.9 ± 2.37), well-functioning, community-dwelling older adults (69.1 ± 3.69 years) without major comorbidity. Gait speeds were calculated from a fast-paced 400 m walk test. Respiratory control ratios were measured from mitochondria isolated from leg skeletal muscle biopsies from one subset. Maximal respiration and spare respiratory capacity were measured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the other subset. Results. Indi vidual differences in gait speed correlated directly with respiratory control ratio of mitochondria isolated from skeletal muscle (r = .536, p = .027) and with both maximal respiration and spare respiratory capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (r = .585 and p = .014; r = .609 and p = .009, respectively). Conclusions. The bioener getic profile of mitochondria isolated from skeletal muscle is associated with gait speed in older adults. Blood-based bioenergetic profiling is also associated with gait speed and may provide an alternative measure of mitochondrial function.
Principal modes in multimode waveguides

We generalize the concept of principal states of polarization and prove the existence of principal modes in multimode waveguides. Principal modes do not suffer from modal dispersion to first order of frequency variation and form orthogonal bases at both the input and the output ends of the waveguide. We show that principal modes are generally different from eigenmodes, even in uniform waveguides, unlike the special case of a single-mode fiber with uniform birefringence. The difference is most pronounced when different eigenmodes possess similar group velocities and when their field patterns vary as a function of frequency. This work may provide a new basis for analysis and control of dispersion in multimode fiber systems.
A Source for Dr. Johnson's Self-Referential Entry “Lexicographer”

Samuel Johnson is celebrated for his witty definitions and perhaps none is better known than that for lexicographer: a writer of dictionaries, a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the ...
Arginines of the RGG box regulate FMRP association with polyribosomes and mRNA

Fragile X syndrome is caused by the loss of expression of the fragile X mental retardation protein, FMRP. FMRP is an RNA-binding protein that is highly expressed in neurons and undergoes multiple post-translational modifications including methylation on arginine. FMRP is methylated on the high-affinity RNA-binding motif, the RGG box, at positions 533, 538, 543 and 545 of murine FMRP. To identify the arginines important for FMRP function, we examined their role in polyribosome and mRNA association. We found that arginines 533 and 538 were required for normal FMRP polyribosome association whereas all four arginines played a role in RNA binding, depending on the identity of the RNA. The model G-quadruplex RNA sc1 required arginines 533 and 538 for normal association with FMRP, whereas AATYK mRNA did not. In vitro methylation of FMRP-bearing arginine substitutions inhibited sc1 binding but not AATYK binding. In addition, we found that PRMT1 co-immunoprecipitated with FMRP isolated from cells and that siRNAs directed against PRMT1 led to reduced FMRP methylation. Thus, two lines of experimentation demonstrate that PRMT1 acts on FMRP in cells. In summary, we provide evidence for the important role of the RGG box in polyribosome association. We also demonstrate for the first time that the different arginines of the RGG box are important for the binding of different RNAs. Finally, we show that PRMT1 methylates FMRP in cells, suggesting a model where methylation of the RGG box modulates either the quantity or the identity of the RNAs bound by FMRP.
Design of a novel engineered muscle construct using muscle derived fibroblastic cells seeded onto braided collagen threads

Engineered muscle tissue offers a promising solution for the treatment of large muscle defects. Three-dimensional tissue engineered matrices, such as collagen microthreads can be used to grow new myofibers that will reduce scar formation and integrate easily into native myofibers. A culture system that would allow efficient seeding of cells onto engineered 3D matrices is not available. Self assembled type I collagen threads were braided to create a final scaffold containing 18 threads and then glued to a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ring. The scaffolds were crosslinked using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). Scaffolds were seeded with muscle derived fibroblastic cells (MDFC) using a PDMS mold with a sealed 2 mm by 12 mm channel to promote cell attachment. Each scaffold was seeded with 2.0 × 106 cells/mL for 3 hours in the device then transferred to a 12 well plate. After 1 day of culture, the results showed considerable cell attachment when using the PDMS molds to seed cells onto the braided collagen scaffolds. These results suggest that MDFCs attach to braided collagen scaffolds and may serve as an exciting new approach to facilitate the delivery of cells to large defects in muscle regeneration.
Integrating structural and epidemiological research to inform the classification of psychopathology.

Given the enormous infl uence of classifi cation on the major clinical, research, and administrative activities of mental health professionals, understanding the true number and nature of disorders and the reasons for their comorbidity is an important public health priority. However, while studies of latent structure have yielded valuable information about disorder boundaries, their reliance on non-representative samples and failure to evaluate the practical implications of structural fi ndings has limited their ability to effect nosological change. Conversely, community epidemiology studies, which inform classifi cation by assessing the implications of diagnostic criteria in representative samples, have been limited by their focus on mental disorders as they are currently conceptualized by the fi eld rather than on correlates and consequences of these disorders as they actually exist in nature. I consider the potential value of integrating systematically the methods of structural research with the methods of epidemiological research, exploring fi ve ways in which these largely independent traditions may profi tably be combined to inform the next classifi cations of mental disorders. By capitalizing on the complementary strengths of structural and epidemiological research, an integrated approach has signifi cant potential to advance understanding of the nature of psychopathology and improve the validity and utility of its diagnosis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Atrazine exposure increases time until cannibalistic response in the widow skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa)

Agricultural runoff containing herbicide is known to have adverse effects on freshwater organisms. Aquatic insects are particularly susceptible, and herbicide runoff has the potential to affect beh...
Characterizing the Disease-Initiating Cell Population In a Murine Model of Jak2V617F+ Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

Abstract 317 The JAK2V617F mutation is the most common somatic mutation in BCR-ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and small molecule JAK2 kinase inhibitors are currently being evaluated in clinical trials in MPN patients. We recently reported a Jak2V617F conditional knockin mouse MPN model in which expression of Jak2V617F was under the control of the endogenous Jak2 promoter and the phenotype closely recapitulated the features of human polycythemia vera (PV) (Mullally and Lane et al, Cancer Cell 2010). In this model the MPN phenotype developed as a result of expansion and erythroid skewing of committed myeloid progenitor populations, while the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment (enriched within LineagelowSca1+cKithigh, LSK cells) was not expanded. In contrast to the expanded progenitor population, only LSK cells had the unique capacity to initiate the MPN. Notably, treatment with a JAK2 kinase inhibitor ameliorated the MPN phenotype, but did not eliminate the disease-initiating population. In light of these findings, we wished to further characterize MPN-initiating LSK cells in this model, with a view to gaining understanding of the differential molecular circuitry of JAK2V617F mutant and normal HSC. The LSK compartment, although enriched for HSC, may be further defined by immunophenotype into long-term HSC (LT-HSC, LSKCD150+CD48-), short-term HSC (ST–HSC, LSKCD150-CD48-), or multipotent progenitor cells (MPP, LSKCD150-CD48+). Gene expression analysis of total LSK cells revealed enrichment for markers of myeloid progenitor differentiation in Jak2V617F LSK cells compared to Jak2 wild-type (WT) controls, although there were no quantitative differences in the LSK sub-populations between the two groups. We therefore sought to evaluate whether the MPN-initiating cell population was contained within the LT-HSC compartment. Employing single cell sorting multi-parameter flow cytometry and limiting dilution bone marrow transplantation assays, we provide further functional characterization of the MPN-initiating population in this model. We demonstrate that Jak2V617F LT-HSCs are highly enriched for MPN-initiating activity in vivo and are able to maintain the MPN through multiple rounds of serial transplantation for periods greater than one year. The MPN phenotype remains stable during this time without evolution to myelofibrosis or leukemia. These findings provide important biological insights into MPN initiation and maintenance and have implications for the development of curative therapeutic strategies for MPN patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.