cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Apheresis days required for harvesting CD34+ cells predicts hematopoietic recovery and survival following autologous transplantation

We sought to determine whether patients requiring more aphereses to obtain adequate numbers of CD34+ cells had delayed hematopoietic recovery following autologous transplantation. We identified 496 consecutive individuals with lymphoma who underwent hematopoietic stem cell mobilization using etoposide and G-CSF and first autologous transplantation. In multivariate analysis, increased apheresis days as a continuous and as a categorical variable at ⩾5/<5 days significantly predicted neutrophil recovery. Apheresis days fell just short of significance (P=0.06) as a predictor of platelet recovery in multivariate analysis. Increased apheresis days (as both continuous and categorical variables) were also predictive of treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome/AML. Patients who underwent ⩾5 days of pheresis had significantly worse survival (P=0.001) than patients with less pheresis days owing to significantly higher relapse mortality (P=0.001).
Late Diagnosis of HIV Infection: The Role of Age and Sex

Abstract Background Late diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is detrimental to infected persons and to the public health. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with late diagnosis of HIV infection, defined as an initial CD4 count Methods This was a cross-sectional study of a university-based HIV clinic in the southeastern US. Patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection evaluated at the Duke University HIV clinic between October 2002 and August 2004 were included in this analysis. Socio-demographic variables, site of HIV diagnosis, opportunistic infections present at diagnosis, initial CD4 count, and initial HIV RNA level were recorded for study subjects. Results Forty-nine percent of subjects met the immunologic definition of AIDS at the time of HIV diagnosis (CD4 count P =.01), and older patients (AOR 1.79, 95% CI, 1.07-3.12, P =.03) and women (AOR 6.74, 95% CI, 2.08-21.81, P =0.001) were more likely to be diagnosed during hospitalization. Conclusions Late diagnosis of HIV infection is a considerable problem, particularly for older patients. Inpatient diagnosis of HIV infection is significantly more common among women and older patients. Improved HIV testing strategies may allow for more timely diagnosis of HIV infection, which may benefit both the infected individual and society.
On the number of interior zeros of a one parameter family of solutions to a second order differential equation satisfying a boundary condition at one endpoint

Abstract A method for obtaining the existence of eigenvalues of an ordinary differential equation with separated boundary conditions is introduced. The method is based on counting the number of interior zeros of a one-parameter family of solutions which satisfy the boundary conditions at one of the end points. The coefficients of the differential equation depend continuously on the parameter but are not necessarily linear in the parameter.
Piece of cake. Cognitive reappraisal of food craving.

A common emotion regulation strategy, cognitive reappraisal, involves altering the meaning of a situation so that the emotional response to the situation is changed. Most research on reappraisal has focused on down-regulation of negative emotion; few studies exist on reappraisal of positive affect, and even fewer have examined the cognitive reappraisal of craving for energy-dense (e.g., “junk”) foods. In the present study we examined this form of cognitive reappraisal using a new adaptation of a classic emotion regulation task. Subjects chose idiosyncratic categories of craved (and not craved) energy-dense foods as stimuli, and were instructed either to look at the stimulus or to reappraise it in a way that reduced desire to eat the depicted food using a strategy that could be used in the real world. A repeated-measures ANOVA and follow-up tests revealed that reappraisal significantly reduced self-reported desirability of both Craved and Not Craved foods, but for a greater degree in Craved foods. In addition, the degree to which subjects decreased their desire to consume Craved foods positively correlated with the cognitive restraint subscale of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, a measure of self-control of eating in everyday life.
A brief report on the use of paper-based computing to supplement a pharmaceutical calculations course

Abstract Objectives To describe changes in the delivery of the pharmaceutical calculations course associated with incorporation of synchronized audio/visual recordings (pencasts) using the Livescribe Pulse™ pen. Design First-year professional students enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy program (n = 108) participated weekly in two one-hour lecture sessions in a web-assisted pharmaceutical calculations course. This manuscript describes the use of supplemental paper-based computing with pencasting in a web-assisted pharmaceutical calculations course. Assessment Surveys were distributed to all students enrolled in the pharmacy calculations course. Student perspectives for the paper-based computing enhancements were collected and evaluated. Conclusion Nearly half (46%) of students surveyed reported using pencasts, and 92.6% of students who reported using pencasts believed that pencasts enhanced learning. Students also responded that pencasts may be beneficial for other pharmacy courses, including pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, chemistry, physical chemistry, and pharmacology.
Ozone-induced conductance increases assayed with lipid impregnated filter membranes — Effect of vitamin E

Abstract Lipid impregnated Millipore filter membranes, which model certain permeability characteristics of lipid bilayers, were used to examine the effect of ozone on membrane conductance. It was found that the conductance across a lipid impregnated filter membrane increased progressively upon exposure to a stream of oxygen delivering up to 5 ppm ozone to the aqueous compartment. The extent of this conductance increase depended on duration of ozone treatment (tenfold after 30 min), ozone concentration (linear dependence to at least 5 ppm), the bathing solution pH (the lower the pH is, the higher the conductance), lipid composition (unsaturation required), temperature, and the existence of a membrane barrier between ozone and the assay membrane (no penetration of ozone through a membrane). It was also found that the presence of α-tocopherol, or cholesterol as part of the lipid of the filter membrane diminished the conductance increases. Virtually complete protection occurred at about a 1% mole ratio of α-tocopherol/lecithin. Since saturated lipid impregnated filter membranes are relatively unaffected by ozone, it is concluded that reaction products of unsaturated lipids with ozone are responsible for the observed conductance increases.
BODY EXPERIENCE BEFORE AND AFTER SURGERY

20 hospitalized male subjects were evaluated with a battery of body-perception tests both pre- and post-operatively. Their scores were also compared with those of normal healthy adults. The results indicated great stability in organization of body experience even in the context of the surgical experience.
Issues associated with repeated neuropsychological assessments

Distinguishing practice effects from other factors in repeated neuropsychological assessments are discussed in the context of research studies and clinical/forensic assessments. Potential methodological procedures for reducing the impact of practice effects in research settings are outlined. In contrast, the potential clinical utility and interpretation of practice effects in clinical assessments and forensic evaluations are highlighted.
Instructional uses of the olin experimental classroom

The Olin Experimental Classroom at Case Western Reserve University provides a laboratory-like environment in which instructors can assess the results of trying out different teaching methods, techniques, etc. From a hasty look at three of the essential hardware components of this facility as shown in Figure 1 - keyset response units for each student, a process-control computer which scans the response units, and a display for the instructor - one could easily conclude that the Olin Experimental Classroom is simply another “student response system” or “wired classroom”. In fact, the differences between the traditional student response systems and the Olin Experimental Classroom begin with the very purposes for which these facilities are intended, and the differences extend to every aspect of t h e i r respective operation.
Oil pollution on Israeli coasts

Abstract Israel has long experienced the effects of oil discharged offshore into the Eastern Mediterranean. A 7-week survey discovered that the country now faces an additional inshore problem resulting from the changing regional pattern of oil transportation.
A framework to integrate object-oriented physical modelling with building information modelling for building thermal simulation

This paper presents a framework for integrating building information modelling (BIM) and object-oriented physical modelling-based building energy modelling (BEM) focusing on thermal simulation to support decision-making in the design process. The framework is made of a system interface between BIM and Modelica-based BEM and the visualization of simulation results for building designers. The interface consists of the following two major features: (1) pre-processing BIM models to add required thermal parameters into BIM and generate the building topology and (2) translating BIM to Modelica-based building energy modelling automatically and running the thermal simulation. The visualization component presents the simulation results in BIM for designers to understand the relationship between design decisions and the building performance. For the framework implementation, we have created a ModelicaBIM library and utilized the Modelica Buildings library developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. We c...
A nonlinear programming approach to the parameter design problem

Abstract The problem of determining an optimal set of values for the parameters of a manufactured product (and/or a manufacturing process), from the point of view of its robustness against various sources of noise, is commonly referred to as the the parameter design problem . We propose an algorithmic strategy for solving the parameter design problem, and present a specific implementation of this strategy which we refer to as the Successive Quadratic Variance Approximation Method (SQVAM). SQVAM is based on conventional optimization techniques, and assumes that the functional relationship between the input parameters and the performance characteristic of interest is either known or could be well approximated. An illustrative numerical example, discussing the design of a Wheatstone bridge, is then presented. This is the same example used by Taguchi to illustrate the orthogonal array method.
Eleventh Enzyme Mechanisms Conference

Abstract The eleventh biennial conference on enzyme mechanisms, organized by P. A. Bartlett (Chairman), J. A. Gerlt, J. V. Schloss, D. N. Silverman, and J. Stubbe, was held on January 6–8, 1989 at St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. Formal talks were given in each of six sessions on the general topics (1) Bioorganic Chemistry; (2) Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms; (3) Radicals; (4) Nucleic Acid Enzymology; (5) Metabolic Pathways; and (6) Enzyme Structure and Function. In addition, two poster sessions were held with a total of over 50 posters being presented. In the following, a brief synopsis of each of the major talks, as well as a few select references to recent work in the area of the talk, is given. Also, the titles and authors of the posters are listed. It is hoped that this brief summary of the meeting not only will indicate the types of studies currently of interest to mechanism-oriented bioorganic chemists, but also will serve as a starting point for those who wish to delve more deeply into the topics that were discussed.
ZEB1 regulates the latent-lytic switch in infection by Epstein-Barr virus.

The immediate-early (IE) BZLF1 gene of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) regulates the switch between latent and lytic infection by EBV. We previously showed that the cellular transcription factor ZEB1 binds to a sequence element, ZV, located at nt −17 to −12 relative to the transcription initiation site of the BZLF1 promoter, Zp, repressing transcription from Zp in a transient transfection assay. Here, we report the phenotype in the context of a whole EBV genome of a variant of EBV strain B95.8 containing a 2-bp substitution mutation in the ZV element of Zp that reduced, but did not eliminate, ZEB1 binding to Zp. Strikingly, epithelial 293 cells latently infected with the EBV ZV mutant spontaneously produced IE-, early-, and late-gene products and infectious virus, while wild-type (WT)-infected 293 cells did not and have never been reported to do so. Furthermore, treatment with the chemical inducers sodium butyrate and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) led to an additional order-of-magnitude production of infectious virus in the ZV mutant–infected 293 cells, but still no virus in the WT-infected 293 cells. Similarly, ZV mutant–infected Burkitt's lymphoma BJAB cells accumulated at least 10-fold more EBV IE mRNAs than did WT-infected BJAB cells, with TPA or sodium butyrate treatment leading to an additional 5- to 10-fold accumulation of EBV IE mRNAs in the ZV mutant–infected cells. Thus, we conclude that ZEB1 binding to Zp plays a central role in regulating the latent-lytic switch in EBV-infected epithelial and B cells, suggesting ZEB1 as a target for lytic-induction therapies in EBV-associated malignancies.
Physiological Control of Molting in Insects

Synopsis. The initiation of a molting cycle in insects is neither a random nor a strictly periodic event. Insofar as molting can accomplish different things under different cir? cumstances, such as a change in size or a change in form, it is reasonable to asume that the timing of a molt must be adapted to these functions. The onset of a metamorphic molt, in particular, must be precisely controlled because the onset of metamorphosis terminates the growth phase of a larva and establishes the body size of the adult insect. This aspect of the control of molting has received relatively little attention and our knowl? edge of specific physiological mechanisms for the control of molt initiation is restricted to three species: the blood-sucking bug, Rhodnius prolixus, the greater milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, and the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. The present review discusses the state of our knowledge about the factors that render these insects competent to molt and about the stimuli that serve as a direct trigger for molting.
The Andragogy of Evidence-Based Group Work: An Integrated Educational Model

Despite advances in group work education and in teaching about evidence-based practice (EBP), there has been little discussion about how to integrate EBP into existing educational models and how education about EBP can add to the effectiveness of group work practice. This article advances instruction in group work through articulating EBP within integrated instructional models. Each model consists of five elements—theory, evidence, group models, practice situation, and supervision—woven together in two ways. In one, EBP is conceptualized within an integrated instructional model that suggests that all elements are essential in education to advancing effective group work. In the second, a developmental instructional model articulates how these elements are delivered in teaching, which may be differentially applied based on the level of knowledge, skill, and experience of the learner. Through these models, the authors demonstrate how evidence-based group work principles integrate with skill development in th...
State requirements for physician emergency medical services providers.

AbstractObjective. To describe requirements of physicians wishing to function as primary field emergency medical services (EMS) providers and variation of these requirements among states. Methods. A simple mailed survey was developed and distributed to all 50 U.S. state EMS directors. The survey gathered information about each state's regulations concerning physicians performing as a primary EMS crew member. Data were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and reported using simple descriptive statistics, including proportions and 95%% confidence intervals (CIs). Results. Forty-four (88%%) of the states responded. In 32 states (73%%), physicians can work as a primary member of either a basic life support (BLS) or an advanced life support (ALS) ambulance crew without any specific additional training. In 30 states (68%%), physicians can work as a primary member of either a BLS or an ALS ambulance crew without any specific prehospital certification. All of the reporting states will allow a physician to b...
The contribution of endogenous opioids to food reward is dependent on sex and background strain

Abstract Complex behaviors such as those associated with reward to unconditioned positive reinforcers are polygenic processes. In studies using genetically modified mice specific for the endogenous opioid systems an observed phenotype in a complex behavior is likely to be dependent on interacting genes which, in inbred mouse lines, influence that phenotype. To address this issue we examined operant responding for palatable food reinforcers in mice lacking the expression of β-endorphin, enkephalin or both peptides congenic to two different genetic backgrounds; C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. These two inbred strains were chosen because their endogenous opioid states differ and they respond differently to exogenous opioids in many behavioral assays. We found that wildtype and mutant C57BL/6J mice acquired operant responding for food reinforcers faster than DBA/2J mice, regardless of their opioid genotype. Although wildtype DBA/2J mice had a significant deficit in acquisition of bar-pressing behavior to reach a pre-established performance criterion, no subsequent deficit was observed under two different schedules of reinforcement. Additionally, we found that mice lacking enkephalin had decreased motivation to bar press for palatable food reinforcers under a progressive ratio regardless of sex or background strain. In contrast, the only subset of β-endorphin-deficient mice that had decreased motivation to bar press under a progressive ratio was males on the C57BL/6J background. Of the two classical endogenous opioid peptides with preferential activation of the mu opioid receptor, the knockout models would suggest that enkephalins play a more consistent role than β-endorphin in mediating the motivation for food reward when tested under a progressive ratio.
Application of program LAURA to three-dimensional AOTV flowfields

Program LAURA (Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm) is a robust, finite volume, single-level storage, implicit upwind differencing algorithm which has been documented and tested on several three-dimensional blunt-body flows. The algorithm can run at unlimited Courant numbers (relaxing the steady-state equations) but requires the inversion of only a 5 x 5 matrix per computational cell. An alternating directional sweep Gauss-Seidel substitution strategy is used to relax the governing equations. At present, the Euler and thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations using Sutherland's law for viscosity have been modeled for a perfect gas, equilibrium air, and nonequilibrium air chemistry neglecting diffusion. The equilibrium and nonequilibrium air chemistry options have been described in a companion paper. Good comparisons with experimental data and another calculation method for pressure distributions, aerodynamic coefficients, and heat-transfer distributions have been demonstrated for three-dimensional blunt-body flows.
Creating Accountability in Image Quality Analysis Part 1: the Technology Paradox

Medical technology development is typically thought of as a catalyst for improving outcomes, whether measured in operational efficiency, cost-efficacy, or clinical terms. In medical imaging and informatics, technology innovations have resulted in a number of dramatic advancements, including new methods for disease detection and analysis (e.g., functional MRI), improved data storage and retrieval (e.g., picture archiving and communication system (PACS)), more timely information delivery (e.g., speech recognition), and computer-assisted diagnosis (e.g., CAD). While these technologic advancements have all had an undeniably positive impact on service deliverables, there has not been an equally positive effect on the technical quality of medical imaging data, which in some respects has paradoxically worsened with the transition from film-based (i.e., analog) to filmless (i.e., digital) imaging [1]. The current practice of quality assurance (QA) in everyday medical imaging practice is often idiosyncratic and inconsistent, with the priorities of imaging service providers often focused on productivity and workflow, which can come at the expense of quality. Since quality in itself is not directly revenue generating, the imaging market and technology producers often downplay the intrinsic value of quality-centric technologies, resulting in a gradual deterioration in QA practice. At the same time, the accreditation process for medical imaging service providers is relatively lax and infrequent (i.e., typically triennial), further compounding this untoward effect on image quality. While the vast majority of medical imaging providers understand the criticality of quality on clinical outcomes, the reality is that QA in its present form is limited at best and inherently flawed at worse. In order to reverse this negative QA trend and reprioritize quality, we should begin by analyzing the temporal changes in QA and technology and then explore innovation strategies aimed at continuous QA measurement, analysis, and intervention. In the end, the future success of medical imaging is in large part tied to quality deliverables. It is time to put QA back into QA practice.
Interactive sparklines: a dynamic display of quantitative information

Initially proposed by Edward Tufte, 'sparklines' present hundreds of data points in the space of a word or two. Tufte originally designed sparklines to be embedded in a sentence. Today they have moved off the printed page into websites, online applications, smart phone screens and interactive documents. Sparklines display hundreds of data points over time: stock prices or sports statistics for the prior year, for example. But how well do they perform with millions of data points acquired in microseconds? What if users capture these data every couple of minutes? How well do sparklines, primarily designed for static display of historical data, fare in the context of an interactive application? In this case study, the author describes interactive sparklines his team designed and developed to assist electronic engineers debugging their electronic circuits. The case study presents an iterative user-centered design process from the initial proposal of sparklines through to their refinement after several releases. The study concludes with reflections about future improvements to interactive sparklines.
Biomass-Based Cohort Analysis that Incorporates Growth

Abstract A biomass-based model for cohort analysis was examined for its performance in estimating total stock biomass over time. The model is based on the premise that a biomass-based analysis that incorporates growth can account for changes in population biomass resulting from changes in individual weight in addition to changes in number, and thereby give better estimates of population biomass over time. The biomass-based approach also facilitates the direct incorporation of data into the analysis in terms of biomass, bypassing the process of converting from biomass to numbers to do the calculations, and then converting the numbers back to biomass in order to make management decisions based on biomass. To incorporate growth into the analysis, we assumed that growth in weight occurs exponentially over the time increment of the analysis. Sensitivity of the analysis to the assumption of exponential growth was tested by examining its performance on three hypothetical data sets generated by simulations incorp...
Silicon-Containing Azo Dyes: Part IV: Dyeing Properties and Lightfastness

The dyeing properties and the lightfastness on cellulose acetate rayon of several azo dyes prepared from m-trimethylsilyl- and m-triphenylsilyl-N,N]- bis- (β-hydroxyethyl)-aniline have been examine...
First Along the River: A Brief History of the U.S. Environmental Movement

Chapter 1: Philosophical Foundations Chapter 2: The 1400s through the 1700s: Inhabiting a New Land Chapter 3: The Early 1800s: Destroying the Frontier Chapter 4: The Late 1880s: Building an Industrial Nation Chapter 5: The 1900s through the 1930s: Beginnings of the Conservation Movement Chapter 6: The 1940s through the 1960s: Prelude to the Green Decade Chapter 7: The 1970s: The Conservation Movement Matures Chapter 8: The 1980s: A Conservative Backlash Chapter 9: The Early 1990s: Government Retrenchment and Public Apathy Chapter 10: The Environmental Movement in the Post-9/11 World Conclusion
Photosynthetic and Respiratory Acclimation to Experimental Warming for Four Species in a Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem

Global temperature has been increased by 0.6 °C over the past century and is predicted to increase by 1.4–5.8 °C by the end of this century. It is unclear what impacts global warming will have on tallgrass species. In the present study, we examined leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and leaf respiration rate in darkness (Rd) of Aster ericoides (L.) Nesom, Ambrosia psilostachya DC., Helianthus mollis Lam., and Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash in response to experimental warming in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem of the Great Plains, USA, in the autumn (fall) of 2000 and through 2001. Warming has been implemented with infrared heaters since 21 November 1999. The Pn increased significantly in spring, decreased in early fall, and did not change in summer and late fall in the four species under warming compared with control. The Rd of the four species increased significantly until mid-summer and then did not change under warming. Measured temperature-response curves of Pn showed that warming increased the optimum temperature of Pn (Topt) by 2.32 and 4.59 °C for H. mollis and S. nutans, respectively, in August, whereas there were no changes in May and September, and A. ericoides and A. psilostachya also showed no changes in any of the 3 months. However, Pn at optimum temperature (Popt) showed downregulation in September and no regulation in May and August for all four species. The temperature-response curves of Rd illustrate that the temperature sensitivity of Rd, Q10, was lower in the warmed plots compared with the control plots, except for A. ericoides in August, whereas there were no changes in May and September for all four species. The results of the present study indicate that photosynthetic and respiratory acclimation varies with species and among seasons, occurring in the mid-growing season and not in the early and late growing seasons.
Numerical accuracy in the integration of cable dynamics equations

Numerical accuracy considerations for motion of a cable modeled by a chain of rigid links are investigated. Two different systems of equations which are mathematically equivalent are integrated numerically. Effects of small changes in initial conditions, integration tolerance, equation set and integration method are studied. This highly non-linear system exhibits pronounced sensitivity to small parameter changes. Solutions which initially agree closely are found to have differences which grow exponentially with time. The instabilities inherent in numerical solutions of such systems are illustrated using some simple one-degree-of-freedom problems having known exact solutions. Thestrong dependence such systems have to minor changes in physical and numerical parameters suggested that caution should be exercised regarding credibility of results predicted by long-time simulations.
Superior PBTI Reliability for SOI FinFET Technologies and Its Physical Understanding

FinFETs provide a path for continued pitch and voltage scaling because of their excellent electrostatic short channel control. The key to design and optimization of FinFET technologies is to understand the differences of their reliability characteristics from those of planar devices. In this letter, we elucidate the differences in positive-bias temperature instability (PBTI) reliability between silicon-on-insulator nFinFETs and planar-bulk nFETs through experiments and TCAD modeling. We show that significantly improved PBTI for FinFET over planar-bulk at a given operating voltage arises from reduced vertical field. Furthermore, we show that the reduced field in FinFETs stems from less depletion charge in strong inversion associated with a fully depleted structure.
Sperm initiate a Ca2+ wave in frog eggs that is more similar to Ca2+ waves initiated by IP3 than by Ca2+.

We have measured the initial propagation velocity of the sperm-induced Ca2+ wave in the egg of Xenopus laevis and have compared it with the initial propagation velocities of the inositol triphosphate (IP3)-induced and Ca2+-induced Ca2+ waves. The initial mean propagation velocity of the sperm-induced wave (13 μm/s) is very similar to that of the IP3-induced waves (12.3 μm/s) and two times faster than the mean Ca2+-induced wave velocity (6.6 μm/s). We have generated realistic simulations of the fertilization wave in the frog egg using a computational technique based on the finite difference method. Modeling refinements presented here include equations for the production, degradation, and diffusion of IP3, a description for Ca2+ dynamics in the endoplasmic reticulum, and a highly concentrated endoplasmic reticulum in the egg cortex. We conclude that models incorporating sperm-induced IP3 generation fit the data best and those involving the influx of either Ca2+ or a diffusible sperm factor fit the data poorly. This independence from Ca2+ influx is also supported by electrophysiological data indicating that Ca2+ influx is not needed to maintain open Cl− channels that generate the fertilization potential.
Management and outcomes for black patients with acute myocardial infarction in the reperfusion era

Data from a national registry of myocardial infarction patients from June 1994 to April 1996 were analyzed to compare the presenting characteristics, acute reperfusion strategies, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes among black and white patients. Blacks presented much later to the hospital after the onset of symptoms (median 145 vs 122 minutes, p <0.001), were more likely to have atypical cardiac symptoms (28% vs 24%, p <0.001), and nondiagnostic electrocardiograms during the initial evaluation period compared with whites (37% vs 31%, p <0.001). Also, blacks were less likely to receive intravenous thrombolytic therapy (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.76, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.71 to 0.80), coronary arteriography (adjusted OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.95), other elective catheter-based procedures (adjusted OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.96), and coronary artery bypass surgery (adjusted OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.75) than their white counterparts. Despite these differences in treatment, there were no significant differences in hospital mortality between blacks and whites.
Erythropoietic activity in the turtle: The influence of hemolytic anemia, hypoxia and hemorrhage on hemopoietic function

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of hemolytic anemia, hypoxia and hemorrhage on turtle erythropoiesis was investigated. 2. 2. Among the parameters elevated by the stimulation were: peripheral blood, bone marrow, spleen and kidney uptake of 59 Fe. The amounts taken up by the liver were reduced. 3. 3. The study indicates that the turtle responds hemopoietically to environmental stresses but slightly slower than expected of mammals.
Predicting the Risk of Pregnancy Among African American Youth: Testing a Social Contextual Model

Research has documented social and developmental consequences for youth who experience an early pregnancy. Few studies, however, have examined predictors of teenage pregnancy other than participation in risky sexual behavior. The present study tests a social-contextual model predicting pregnancy among youth. Quality of parenting, affiliation with peers who engage in risky sexual behavior, and school engagement in early adolescence are examined as antecedents of pregnancy among youth. The model is tested using a using a prospective longitudinal design with a sample of 305 high-risk African American females. Results from structural equation modeling generally provide support for the model. Findings suggest that the association between quality of parenting and pregnancy among youth is mediated by affiliation with peers who engage in risky sex and risky sexual behaviors. Implications for education and intervention are discussed.
Cation-dipole interactions in clay organic complexes

Quantitative gas chromatographic analyses supplemented by X-ray diffraction studies of the adsorption of ethanol and acetone (as model polar organic compounds) on homoionic montmorillonite revealed marked variation in the number of molecules associated with each exchange cation. The results show increasing association in the order K+ <Na+<Ba2+<Ca2+. K+ and Na+ associate with two and three molecules, respectively, of either ethanol or acetone, and the resulting complexes expand to form a monolayer (∼13 A). Ba2+ and Ca2+ form both monolayer complexes as well as double layer complexes. In the single layer complexes Ba2+ associates with either four molecules of ethanol or four molecules of acetone, Ca2+ associates with five molecules of ethanol or four molecules of acetone. In the double-layer complexes the observed cation-molecule ratios are 1 : 8 for both Ba2+-ethanol and Ba2+-acetone, 1 : 10 for Ca2+-ethanol, and 1 : 8 for Ca2+-acetone. The striking dependence of ethanol and acetone adsorption on the nature of the exchangeable cation suggests that cation-dipole interactions play an important role in the adsorption process. Structural models of the organic complexes are presented.
Occurrence and synthesis of a non-thionein, zinc-binding protein in the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri).

Abstract 1. A non-thionein, Zn-binding protein (ZBP) was induced in Donaldson strain rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri ) by 7 mg/kg, i.p. injections of divalent Zn ion. 2. The Sephacryl S-200 used for supernatant fractionation had to be saturated with Zn to recover quantitatively the Zn-ZBP complex. 3. The ZBP was present in liver and kidney, but was absent from gill and spleen. 4. The apparent molecular weights of the liver and kidney ZBP as estimated by gel filtration were 17,300 ± 1300 (SD; N = 11) and 18,100 ( N = 1), respectively. 5. Starvation induced hepatic ZBP synthesis whereas cycloheximide inhibited hepatic ZBP synthesis. The quantity of hepatic ZBP synthesized varied with the temperature of the water in which the trout resided. The maximum quantity of ZBP in the liver following a single 7 mg/kg Zn injection (17 μg Zn/g liver wet weight) occurred at 24 hr.
Stability of some population models with delay

Abstract The stability of equilibrium of some single-species and predator-prey population models with delay and constant-rate harvesting is studied. It is suggested that the qualitative behavior of the one- and the two-dimensional model may be quite different from each other, and also that the two models may react quite differently to harvesting.
Interactive strategy formation: Organizational and entrepreneurial factors related to effective customer information systems practices in B2B firms

Abstract Interactive marketing requires that a firm learn about its customers and remember what the customer has said to personalize communications and customize product offerings to those customers. This type of marketing requires that customer information be actively managed because information from and about the customer is the core of marketing decision-making. In-depth interviews with 17 managers in five firms identified specific organizational and entrepreneurial factors pertinent to the strategic management of customer information. The research suggests that interactive marketing require a company that can itself be interactive with its internal and external environment to create strategies that can succeed in a changing environment. One exemplary company was compared to four others to uncover organizational issues and processes leading to effective management of customer information. Using the Resource-Based View and the importance of the effective management of intangible assets as its starting point, this research illuminated the processes involved with collecting and disseminating information and highlighted the firms' struggle with issues of inter-functional conflict. Perhaps most importantly, from a strategy-formation point of view, customer-centric strategies related to customer information management were found to be developed interactively, as a dialogue between middle and upper management, using customer data and competitive trends.
Grain Size and Burnup Dependence of Spent Fuel Oxidation: Geological Repository Impact

Further refinements to the oxidation model of Stout et al. have been made. The present model incorporates the burnup dependence of the oxidation rate in addition to an allowance for a distribution of grain sizes. The model was tested by comparing the model results with the oxidation histories of spent fuel samples oxidized in Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) or Oven Dry-Bath (ODB) experiments. The comparison between the experimental and model results are remarkably close and confirm the assumption that grain-size distributions and activation energies are the important parameters to predicting oxidation behavior. The burnup dependence of the activation energy was shown to have a greater effect than decreasing the effective grain size in suppressing the rate of the reaction U{sub 4}O{sub 9}(rightwards arrow)U{sub 3} O{sub 4}. Model results predict that U{sub 3}O{sub 8} formation of spent fuels exposed to oxygen will be suppressed even for high burnup fuels that have undergone restructuring in the rim region, provided the repository temperature is kept sufficient.
Geostatistical schemes for groundwater sampling

Abstract Geostatistical techniques offer efficient tools for design of groundwater sampling networks. They include procedures for the selection of the best sequences of sampling points, such as: variance reduction analysis, median ranking, and risk ranking. Variance reduction analysis considers primarily the accuracy of the estimated field, while median ranking is based only on the magnitude of the estimated values. Risk ranking is a compromise between these procedures that appears to yield a more balanced guideline for cases when planners desire to acquire maximum information, while monitoring areas where the variable of interest exhibits critical values. These procedures are used for the design of a regional shallow groundwater quality monitoring network in the Dougherty Plain, located in southwest Georgia. The shallow aquifer of concern is the main recharge route to a semiconfined aquifer which is the primary source of water in this region. The desired monitoring network acts as an early warning system for groundwater pollution in deeper layers. Leakance data are utilized to identify the primary sampling locations. Statistical analyses indicate that leakance has a log-normal distribution with a constant drift and a linear spatial covariance. The results of our risk rankings demonstrate that the southern tip of the Dougherty Plain and its upper central zone should be the prime targets of our monitoring activities.
Theology Proper and the Proper Way to Pray: An Exposition of Psalm 139

Prayer is central to Christian life and worship. Unfortunately, prayer is also one of the most difficult things we do, often because we misunderstand what prayer is and who God is. Psalm 139 offers...
Qualities of effective supervisors: The expectations of prospective student teachers

(1991). Qualities of effective supervisors: The expectations of prospective student teachers. The Teacher Educator: Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 2-8.
Risk factors for lymph node metastasis in apparent early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer: Implications for surgical staging

Abstract Objectives The extent of lymphadenectomy to be performed in apparent early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is not well defined. We evaluated the patterns of lymphatic spread in apparent early-stage EOC and risk factors for lymph node metastasis, as these have potential implications for clinical decision making. Methods All cases of apparent early-stage EOC diagnosed at our institution between January 1994 and December 2003 were retrospectively identified. Apparent early-stage EOC was defined as gross disease that appeared confined to the pelvis without abdominal spread at the time of initial exploration. Demographics, pathologic findings, staging procedures performed, and clinical impression at surgery were analyzed. Patterns of lymph node positivity and risk factors associated with upstaging were assessed. Results One hundred and ninety patients with apparent early-stage EOC undergoing primary surgical staging met criteria for inclusion. All patients had at least some pathologic assessment of lymph nodes, with 115 having both bilateral pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy performed. After review of pathology and operative reports, the final FIGO staging within the cohort was 54 IA (28.4%), 10 IB (5.3%), 51 IC (26.8%), 1 IIA (0.5%), 4 IIB (2.1%), 37 IIC (19.5%), 8 IIIA (4.2%), 25 IIIC (13.2%). Overall 25/190 (13%) had lymph nodes metastasis as follows: 8 (32%) had positive pelvic nodes, 12 (48%) had positive paraaortic nodes, and 5 (20%) had both positive pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes. Significant risk factors for lymph node metastasis included bilateral vs. unilateral primary lesion (26.8% vs. 7.5%, p p =0.012), ascites vs. no ascites (28.2% vs. 9.3%, p =0.002), serous vs. other histology (28% vs. 9%, p =0.001), grade 1 vs. grade 2 vs. grade 3 disease (2.7% vs. 1.9% vs. 23.2%, p 35 vs. ≤ 35 U/ml (22.4% vs.0% p =0.006). No patients with mucinous cancers ( n =29) had lymph node metastases. Patterns of LN metastases were largely independent of laterality of primary lesions: among those with unilateral lesions and positive nodes ( n =10), 5 (50%) had ipsilateral lymph node involvement, 4 (40%) had bilateral involvement, and 1 (10%) had isolated contralateral lymph nodes positive. Conclusions Complete surgical staging in EOC patients with gross disease confined to the ovaries and pelvis should include bilateral pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. Even in patients with unilateral lesions, lymph node metastases are commonly bilateral. Bilateral ovarian lesions, positive cytology, presence of ascites, high grade histology, and serous histology are risk factors for lymph node involvement. This information may be helpful in counseling patients presenting for consideration of re-staging after unexpected findings of malignancy.
Through-the-wall radar imaging based on modified Bayesian compressive sensing

In this paper, a novel modified complex multi-task Bayesian compressive sensing (MCMT-BCS) algorithm is proposed to acquire high-resolution images in stepped-frequency through-the-wall radar imaging (TWRI) exploiting multipath. Unlike traditional TWRI approaches that assume frequency-independent scattering model, we develop a practical subband scattering model to characterize real-world scattering mechanisms. The target imaging is reformulated as a multi-task sparse signal recovery problem across all frequency subbands as well as multipath modes, where the sparse entries of each task share the same support in the imaged scene. The proposed MCMT-BCS algorithm accounts for both types of coexisting group sparsity to achieve improved high-resolution imaging capability. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
EXCITATION OF OPTICALLY FORBIDDEN STATES IN THE IONIZATION CONTINUUM BY ELECTRON IMPACT

The inelastic-electron-scattering resonances in the ionization continuum of He, Ne, and Ar were recorded as a function of primary energy. The energy resolution was \ensuremath{\sim}0.1 eV, the angular resolution $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\theta}$ was \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ rad about the forward direction, and the primary energy was between 60 and 400 eV. The strength of resonances due to optically forbidden transitions from the ground state compared with those due to optically allowed transitions increases as the energy is reduced, as was expected. A marked difference between $^{1}D$ and $^{1}S$ behavior exists, and certain resonances, notably that due to the $(3s3{p}^{6}4p)^{1}P$ state in Ar, change shape as the energy is reduced. At the highest energies used the resonances due to optically forbidden transitions were still apparent.
Strategizing Party Adaptation: The Case of the Kuomintang

On the first electoral defeat of the age-old Kuomintang (KMT) in the year 2000, many predicted its disintegration. However, as the 2004 election unfolded, many forecast its triumphant return. This ...
Input-shaping control of nonlinear MEMS

We develop a new technique for preshaping input commands to control microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In general, MEMS are excited using an electrostatic field which is a nonlinear function of the states and the input voltage. Due to the nonlinearity, the frequency of the device response to a step input depends on the input magnitude. Therefore, traditional shaping techniques which are based on linear theory fail to provide good performance over the whole input range. The technique we propose combines the equations describing the static response of the device, an energy balance argument, and an approximate nonlinear analytical solution of the device response to preshape the voltage commands. As an example, we consider set-point stabilization of an electrostatically actuated torsional micromirror. The shaped commands are applied to drive the micromirror to a desired tilt angle with zero residual vibrations. Simulations show that fast mirror switching operation with almost zero overshoot can be realized using this technique. The proposed methodology accounts for the energy of the significant higher modes and can be used to shape input commands applied to other nonlinear micro- and macro-systems.
Comparison of upper extremity kinematics in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy using anterior and posterior walkers

This prospective study analyzes the upper extremity kinematics of 10 children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy using anterior and posterior walkers. Although both types of walkers are commonly prescribed by clinicians, no quantitative data comparing the two in regards to upper extremity motion has been published. The study methodology included testing of each subject with both types of walkers in a motion analysis laboratory after an acclimation period of at least 1 month. Overall results showed that statistically, both walkers are relatively similar. With both anterior and posterior walkers, the shoulders were extended, elbows flexed, and wrists extended. Energy expenditure, walking speed and stride length was also similar with both walker types. Several differences were also noted although not statistically significant. Anterior torso tilt was reduced with the posterior walker and shoulder extension and elbow flexion were increased. Outcomes analysis indicated that differences in upper extremity torso and joint motion were not dependent on spasticity or hand dominance. These findings may help to build an understanding of upper extremity motion in walker-assisted gait and potentially to improve walker prescription.