cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term Health-related Quality of Life After Primary Treatment for Localized Prostate Cancer: Results from the CaPSURE Registry

Background: Few studies have reported on late declines and long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after prostate cancer (PCa) treatment. Objective: We assessed long-term HRQOL following various treatments for localized PCa. Design, setting, and participants: This cohort study of HRQOL up to 10 yr after treatment used a prospectively accrued, nationwide PCa registry that collects longitudinal patientreported HRQOL. Intervention: Various primary treatments for localized PCa. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The Medical Outcomes Studies 36item Short Form and the University of California, Los Angeles, Prostate Cancer Index characterized physical function, mental health, and sexual, urinary, and bowel function and bother. Repeated measures mixed-model analysis assessed change in HRQOL by treatment over time, and logistic regression was used to measure the likelihood of a clinically significant decline in HRQOL. Results and limitations: Among 3294 men, 1139 (34%) underwent nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP), 860 (26%) underwent non-NSRP, 684 (21%) underwent brachytherapy, 386 (12%) underwent external beam radiotherapy, 161 (5%) underwent primary androgen deprivation therapy, and 64 (2%) pursued watchful waiting/active surveillance. Median follow-up was 74 mo (interquartile range: 50–102). Most treatments resulted in early declines in HRQOL, with some recovery over the next 1–2 yr and a plateau in scores thereafter. Surgery had the largest impact on sexual function and bother and on urinary function, radiation had the strongest effect on bowel function, and androgen deprivation therapy had the strongest effect on physical function. The main limitation was attrition among the cohort. Conclusions: Although most men experience initial declines in HRQOL in the first 2 yr after treatment, there is little change from 3 to 10 yr and most differences between treatments attenuated over time. Patient summary: Various treatments for prostate cancer result in a distinct constellation of adverse effects on health-related quality of life, which may have a long-term impact. These findings are helpful regarding shared decision making over choice of primary treatment.
Mycoflora of Stone Fruit Mummies in California Orchards

ABSTRACT Stone fruit mummies infected by Monilinia fructicola were periodically collected in winter from trees and from the ground in eight orchards in 1995-96 and from five orchards in 1996-97. Mycoflora were determined by spreading mummy washings and plating inner tissues onto petri dishes containing acidified potato dextrose agar, then counting colonies of individual fungi after incubation at 23°C for 4 days. Twenty genera, representing 29 fungal species, were isolated from both mummy washings and inner tissues. Aspergillus japonicus, A. terreus, and species of Harknesia, Paecilomyces, and Trichoderma are the first recorded from species of Prunus in the United States, and Aureobasidium pullulans and Epicoccum purpurascens are the first reported for California. The principal mycoflora recovered from mummy washings were species of non-filamentous yeasts (32.1%), Penicillium (28.8%), Cladosporium (11.4%), and Mucor (10.8%). Major mycoflora of mummy inner tissues were species of Penicillium (23.7%), Mucor ...
Integral representations of generalized axially symmetric potentials in a simply connected domain

We obtain integral representations of generalized axially symmetric potentials via analytic functions of a complex variable that are defined in an arbitrary simply connected bounded domain symmetric with respect to the real axis. We prove that these integral representations establish a one-to-one correspondence between analytic functions of a complex variable that take real values on the real axis and generalized axially symmetric potentials of certain classes.
Dietary Supplements and the Promotion of Muscle Growth with Resistance Exercise

Nutritional strategies of overfeeding, ingesting carbohydrate/protein before and after exercise, and dietary supplementation of various nutrients [e.g. protein, glutamine, branched-chain amino acid, creatine, leucine, beta-hydroxy beta-methyl-butyrate (beta-HMB), chromium, vanadyl sulfate, boron, prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]) and androstenedione] have been purported to promote gains in fat-free mass during resistance training. Most studies indicate that chromium, vanadyl sulfate and boron supplementation do not affect muscle growth. However, there is evidence that ingesting carbohydrate/protein prior to exercise may reduce catabolism during exercise and that ingesting carbohydrate/protein following resistance-exercise may promote a more anabolic hormonal profile. Furthermore, glutamine, creatine, leucine, and calcium beta-HMB may affect protein synthesis. Creatine and calcium beta-HMB supplementation during resistance training have been reported to increase fat-free mass in athletic and nonathletic populations. Prasterone supplementation has been reported to increase testosterone and fat-free mass in nontrained populations. However, results are equivocal, studies have yet to be conducted on athletes, and prasterone is considered a banned substance by some athletic organisations. This paper discusses rationale and effectiveness of these nutritional strategies in promoting lean tissue accretion during resistance training.
Retention Characteristics of Protein-Based Chiral HPLC Columns

Abstract The retentivity and enantioselectivity of chiral HPLC columns containing immobilized stereoselective proteins as the stationary phase were investigated by varying the parameters of sample size, column temperature, mobile phase pH, mobile phase organic modifier and inorganic buffer concentration. Columns containing bovine serum albumin, ovomucoid, and alpha(l)-acid glycoprotein were evaluated and retention characteristics were compared by separating acidic and basic test compounds. Enantioselectivity of each of these protein-based chiral columns is affected somewhat differently by the chromatographic parameters; chiral separations were optimized by adjustment of the appropriate parameters.
Psychological adjustment in mathematically gifted students.

The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was adminis were identified by a national talent search and attended a summer program in precalculus. Results indicated that these students were significantly better adjusted than the adolescent normative group for the instrument Gender, grade level, and verbal abilities were not related to adjustment scores. The scores obtained by the most gifted students were not significantly different from scores obtained by the rest of the sample.
Femtosecond laser induced fiber Bragg gratings for harsh environment sensing applications

Fiber Bragg grating sensors have been developed beyond a laboratory curiosity to become a mainstream sensing technology because of their small size, passive nature, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and capability to simultaneously measure multiple physical parameters such as temperature, strain and pressure. Recently, high temperature stable gratings based on regeneration techniques and femtosecond infrared laser processing have shown promise for use in extreme environments such as high temperature, pressure or ionizing radiation. Such gratings are ideally suited for energy production applications where there is a requirement for advanced energy system instrumentation and controls that are operable in harsh environments. This presentation will give a review of some of the more recent developments of femtosecond laser induced fiber Bragg gratings.
Geology and K-Ar dating of the Tuxtla Volcanic Field, Veracruz, Mexico

The Tuxtla Volcanic Field (TVF) is located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the southern part of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Volcanism began about 7 my ago, in the Late Miocene, and continued to recent times with historical eruptions in ad 1664 and 1793. The oldest rocks occur as highly eroded remnants of lava flows in the area surrounding the historically active cone of San Martin Tuxtla. Between about 3 and 1 my ago, four large composite volcanoes were built in the eastern part of the area. Rocks from these structures are hydrothermally altered and covered with lateritic soils, and their northern slopes show extensive erosional dissection that has widened preexisting craters to form erosional calderas. The eastern volcanoes are composed of alkali basalts, hawaiites, mugearites, and benmoreites, with less common calc-alkaline basaltic andesites and andesites. In the western part of the area, San Martin Tuxtla Volcano and its over 250 satellite cinder cones and maars produced about 120 km3 of lava over the last 0.8 my. A ridge of flank cinder cones blocked drainage to the north to form Laguna Catemaco. Lavas erupted from San Martin and its flank vents are restricted to compositions between basanite and alkali basalt. The alignment of major volcanoes and flank vents along a N55°W trend suggests an extensional stress field in the crust with a minimum compressional stress orientation of N35° E. In total, about 800 km3 of lava has been erupted in the TVF in the last 7 my. This gives a magma output rate of about 0.1 km3/1000 year, a value smaller than most composite cones, but similar to cinder cone fields that occur in central Mexico. Individual eruptions over the last 5000 years had volumes on the order of 0.1km3, with average recurrence intervals of 600 years. The alkaline compositions of the TVF lavas contrast markedly with the calc-alkaline compositions erupted in the subduction-related Mexican Volcanic Belt to the west, leading previous workers to suggest that the TVF is not related to subduction. Trace-element signatures of TVF lavas indicate, however, that they are probably related to subduction. We suggest that the alkaline character of the TVF lavas is the result of low degrees of melting of a mantle source coupled with a stress regime that allows these small-volume melts to reach the surface in the TVF.
Modulation of Nitric Oxide Release in Perinatal Lung

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe transitional changes in fetal pulmonary circulation at birth. 2. Delineate the role of nitric oxide in pulmonary vasodilation at birth. 3. List the factors that stimulate nitric oxide release at birth. 4. Describe the role of oxidative phosphorylation and adenosine triphosphate in the stimulation of nitric oxide release at birth. 5. Classify purine receptors and their functions in the fetal cardiovascular system. The lung in the fetus is a liquid-filled organ that has high resistance to pulmonary blood flow. Rapid adaptation of the fetal lung to the extrauterine environment is essential to ensure survival of the newborn. Gas exchange is established at birth when air enters the alveolar space and pulmonary blood flow increases nearly tenfold to provide the optimum ventilation/perfusion match. A rapid and sustained decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) facilitates this postnatal adaptation. The pulmonary vasodilation is initiated by a number of birth-related stimuli, such as distension of the lung,1 increase in oxygen tension,2 establishment of air-liquid interface, and hemodynamic shear stress. Oxygen appears to be the most important of these birth-related stimuli in causing pulmonary vasodilation as the fetus makes the transition from a low to a high o2 environment (Fig. 1⇓ ).2 Preparation of the pulmonary vascular bed for this event begins before birth, with a gradual increase in pulmonary blood flow and reactivity of pulmonary vessels to oxygen being demonstrated in late gestation.3 Figure 1. Changes in alveolar and arterial Po2 (torr). Although the precise mechanisms that regulate pulmonary vasodilation are not known, studies in fetal lambs have demonstrated that vascular endothelium plays a major role by releasing nitric oxide (NO)4,5 and vasodilator prostaglandins6 at birth. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzyme undergoes a developmental …
Moving Forward: Addressing the Health of Asian American and Pacific Islander Women

Little is known about the health of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women, a rapidly growing population marked by diverse sociodemographic characteristics, health needs, and access to and use of health services. This commentary provides broad recommendations for research, program development, and policy development based on the first-ever White House Initiative report on AAPIs. These recommendations address the issues of data, access, civil rights, community capacity, and the need to recognize ethnic subgroups among the AAPI population. Reflecting on the events of the past year, the recommendations provide direction for public health to address the health and well-being of AAPI women.
Employment decisions by computer science faculty: A summary of the 1980-81 NSF survey

Over the past several years a great deal has been written, and even more said, regarding the crisis in employment of faculty in computer science departments (1,2,3,4,5). In order to obtain data regarding the magnitude of the problem, and reasons for it, the National Science Foundation, in the 1980-81 academic year conducted a survey of Ph.D. granting departments of computer science in the United States. This paper will present a summary of the results of the survey. Data obtained regarding the departments were consistent with that reported earlier by Hamblen (6,7), and Taulbee and Conte (8). Results of the survey regarding motivation for professional mobility were consistent with those reported by Eisenberg and Galanti (9) regarding the engineering disciplines.
The impact of Mexico’s conditional cash transfer programme, Oportunidades, on birthweight

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of Oportunidades, a large-scale, conditional cash transfer programme in Mexico, on birthweight. The programme provides cash transfers to low-income, rural households in Mexico, conditional on accepting nutritional supplements health education, and health care. METHODS The primary analyses used retrospective reports from 840 women in poor rural communities participating in an effectiveness study and randomly assigned to incorporation into the programme in 1998 or 1999 across seven Mexican states. Pregnant women in participating households received nutrition supplements and health care, and accepted cash transfers. Using multivariate and instrumental variable analyses, we estimated the impact of the programme on birthweight in grams and low birthweight (<2500 g), receipt of any pre-natal care, and number of pre-natal visits. RESULTS Oportunidades beneficiary status was associated with 127.3 g higher birthweight among participating women and a 4.6 percentage point reduction in low birthweight. CONCLUSION The Oportunidades conditional cash transfer programme improved birthweight outcomes. This finding is relevant to countries implementing conditional cash transfer programmes.
Frequency of Occult Blood in Stool and the Bowel Habit of Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) Infants

Frequency of Occult Blood in Stool and the Bowel Habit of Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) Infants
Morphological criteria for prognostication of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Summary. Thirty-nine children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were divided into three groups according to proportion of macrolymphoblasts (MLb) (> 12 μm) in the pretreatment bone marrow: Group 1: 10 patients with MLb less than 10%; Group 11: 17 patients with 11–25% MLb; Group 111: 12 patients with MLb over 26%. The miorphologic findings were correlated with the clinical data, and it was noted that none of Group I patients had relapses for a median period of observation of 57 mth. In Group 11, 14 of 16 patients (one patient was lost to follow-up for first remission duration) had relapses, with a median first remission duration of 15 mth. In Group 111, 11 of 12 patients had relapses with a median first remission duration of 12 mth. Our data indicate that the microlymphoblastic variety of ALL has a better prognosis (P < 0.01) when the proportion of MLb in the pretreatment bone marrow is 10% or less.
(R)-α-Lipoic Acid Treatment Restores Ceramide Balance in Aging Rat Cardiac Mitochondria

Inflammation results in heightened mitochondrial ceramide levels, which cause electron transport chain dysfunction, elevates reactive oxygen species, and increases apoptosis. As mitochondria in aged hearts also display many of these characteristics, we hypothesized that mitochondrial decay stems partly from an age-related ceramidosis that heretofore has not been recognized for the heart. Intact mitochondria or their purified inner membranes (IMM) were isolated from young (4-6 mo) and old (26-28 mo) rats and analyzed for ceramides by LC-MS/MS. Results showed that ceramide levels increased by 32% with age and three ceramide isoforms, found primarily in the IMM (e.g. C(16)-, C(18)-, and C(24:1)-ceramide), caused this increase. The ceramidosis may stem from enhanced hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, as neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) activity doubled with age but with no attendant change in ceramidase activity. Because (R)-α-lipoic acid (LA) improves many parameters of cardiac mitochondrial decay in aging and lowers ceramide levels in vascular endothelial cells, we hypothesized that LA may limit cardiac ceramidosis and thereby improve mitochondrial function. Feeding LA [0.2%, w/w] to old rats for two weeks prior to mitochondrial isolation reversed the age-associated decline in glutathione levels and concomitantly improved Complex IV activity. This improvement was associated with lower nSMase activity and a remediation in mitochondrial ceramide levels. In summary, LA treatment lowers ceramide levels to that seen in young rat heart mitochondria and restores Complex IV activity which otherwise declines with age.
Outlook for maintaining areal density growth in magnetic recording

Historical trends and advanced component work are cited as reason for optimism that the current progress in storage areal density will continue smoothly to at least 5 Gigabits per square inch by the year 2000. >
Thermal expansion of silver iodide

Abstract The thermal expansion of silver iodide with the zincblende structure has been measured by X-ray diffraction techniques in the temperature range 4.2–300°K. Although dependent on sample preparation, it is negative to approximately 80°K, positive in the range 80–110°K, and then attains a constant negative high temperature value. This expansion is explained in terms of a model which shows the dependence of thermal expansion on structure and bonding. It is shown that the primary role of covalency, in its contribution to the low-temperature contraction, is to reduce the interaction between next-nearest neighbors. The particular form of the interatomic interaction appears to contribute primarily to the balance between modes with positive and negative Gruneisen factors. In the case of AgI, it is the large n in the nearest neighbor repulsive interaction, r −n , which accounts for the negative high temperature limit. The positive thermal expansion at intermediate temperatures is the result of transverse optical modes with lower frequencies than transverse acoustic modes.
Aza Cope Rearrangement of Propargyl Enammonium Cations Catalyzed By a Self-Assembled Nanozyme

The tetrahedral assembly [Ga4L6]12− [L = N,N-bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-1,5-diaminonaphthalene) encapsulates a variety of cations, including propargyl enammonium cations capable of undergoing the aza Cope rearrangement. For propargyl enammonium substrates that are encapsulated in the [Ga4L6]12− assembly, rate accelerations by factors of up to 184 compared with the background reaction rate were observed. After rearrangement, the product iminium ion is released into solution and hydrolyzed, allowing for catalytic turnover. The activation parameters for the catalyzed and uncatalyzed reaction were determined, revealing that a decrease in the entropy of activation is responsible for the observed rate enhancements. The catalyzed reaction exhibits saturation kinetics: the rate data obeyed the Michaelis−Menten model of enzyme kinetics, and competitive inhibition using a nonreactive guest was demonstrated.
Why is p53 acetylated

Recent studies suggest that acetylation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein is not important for its DNA binding activity, as was previously thought. We discuss here a number of theories as to how this modification may serve to regulate the protein's functions.
Simultaneous segmentation and statistical label fusion

Labeling or segmentation of structures of interest in medical imaging plays an essential role in both clinical and scientific understanding. Two of the common techniques to obtain these labels are through either fully automated segmentation or through multi-atlas based segmentation and label fusion. Fully automated techniques often result in highly accurate segmentations but lack the robustness to be viable in many cases. On the other hand, label fusion techniques are often extremely robust, but lack the accuracy of automated algorithms for specific classes of problems. Herein, we propose to perform simultaneous automated segmentation and statistical label fusion through the reformulation of a generative model to include a linkage structure that explicitly estimates the complex global relationships between labels and intensities. These relationships are inferred from the atlas labels and intensities and applied to the target using a non-parametric approach. The novelty of this approach lies in the combination of previously exclusive techniques and attempts to combine the accuracy benefits of automated segmentation with the robustness of a multi-atlas based approach. The accuracy benefits of this simultaneous approach are assessed using a multi-label multi-atlas whole-brain segmentation experiment and the segmentation of the highly variable thyroid on computed tomography images. The results demonstrate that this technique has major benefits for certain types of problems and has the potential to provide a paradigm shift in which the lines between statistical label fusion and automated segmentation are dramatically blurred.
One Year’s Results from a Server-Based System for Performing Reject Analysis and Exposure Analysis in Computed Radiography

Rejected images represent both unnecessary radiation exposure to patients and inefficiency in the imaging operation. Rejected images are inherent to projection radiography, where patient positioning and alignment are integral components of image quality. Patient motion and artifacts unique to digital image receptor technology can result in rejected images also. We present a centralized, server-based solution for the collection, archival, and distribution of rejected image and exposure indicator data that automates the data collection process. Reject analysis program (RAP) and exposure indicator data were collected and analyzed during a 1-year period. RAP data were sorted both by reason for repetition and body part examined. Data were also stratified by clinical area for further investigation. The monthly composite reject rate for our institution fluctuated between 8% and 10%. Positioning errors were the main cause of repeated images (77.3%). Stratification of data by clinical area revealed that areas where computed radiography (CR) is seldom used suffer from higher reject rates than areas where it is used frequently. S values were log-normally distributed for examinations performed under either manual or automatic exposure control. The distributions were positively skewed and leptokurtic. S value decreases due to radiologic technology student rotations, and CR plate reader calibrations were observed. Our data demonstrate that reject analysis is still necessary and useful in the era of digital imaging. It is vital though that analysis be combined with exposure indicator analysis, as digital radiography is not self-policing in terms of exposure. When combined, the two programs are a powerful tool for quality assurance.
A novel quantum wire formed by lateral p–n–p junctions between quasi‐two‐dimensional electron and hole systems at corrugated GaAs/AlGaAs interfaces

Numerical modeling of a novel quantum wire structure formed by the confinement of electrons between lateral quasi‐two‐dimensional (Q2‐D) p–n junctions in a corrugated GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure is reported on. Such a quantum wire may be realized at the tip of a Si‐doped AlGaAs overgrown V groove in a SI–GaAs substrate due to the surface orientation dependence of Si doping. The two‐dimensional conduction and valence band potential profiles for the electron and hole charge densities are solved within a semiclassical Thomas–Fermi screening model. The quantized electronic wire states at the heterointerface are then obtained by solving the two‐dimensional effective mass Schrodinger equation using the calculated potential profile. The parameter space of the one‐dimensional electron system is explored to establish which features of the structure are dominant factors in controlling the electronic states. It is demonstrated that the energy level spacing of the quantum wire depends primarily on the lateral confinement width in the n‐type region at the tip of the V groove. The ground state energy of the wire is shown to depend on both the lateral confinement width and the vertical heterointerface confinement width. The results of our initial calculations are also reported on to incorporate lateral gates on the surface to obtain direct control of the quantum wire transport properties. The advantages of fabricating quantum wires with this structure compared to conventional methods of electrostatic confinement are discussed.
Divergent Thinking, Creativity, and Giftedness:

Creativity is an important facet of giftedness. Creativity is, however, very difficult to define and measure. Divergent thinking tests are often used, though of course they really just estimate the potential for creative thought. In the past few years, the technologies for the assessment and enhancement of divergent thinking have changed dramatically. This article reviews the most recent research on divergent thinking. Several new assessment techniques are reviewed, including those using either lenient or stringent solution standards, those relying on ideational pools (examinees' total output of ideas), and those involving qualitative aspects of ideation, Recent research showing moderately high predictive validity coefficients is also reviewed. The role played by evaluation and valuation in the divergent thinking process is outlined, as is the role of problem definition and problem identification. Special considerations for the creativity of gifted children are noted throughout the article, and specific d...
Slutamine-dependent carbamyl phosphate synthetase in placenta and fetal structures of the rat

Abstract Glutamine-dependent carbamyl phosphate synthetase activity has been demonstrated in fetal liver, gut, carcass, and brain and in the placenta of the 19-day pregnant rat. The widespread distribution of this enzyme within the conceptus indicates that even the first step in the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidines can occur in situ . It also suggests that formation of nucleic acids by the conceptus during fasting may be supported by products of maternal protein catabolism.
Monitoring and interpreting turning points in educational indicators

Educational indicators are statistical time series that reflect the state of some element of the educational system. Most turning points in educational indicators are not cyclical, but respond to major societal events.
Common inflammatory mediators orchestrate pathophysiological processes in rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis

RA is characterized by a systemic inflammatory state, in which immune cells and soluble mediators play a crucial role. These inflammatory processes resemble those in other chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis. The chronic systemic inflammation in RA can be considered as an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, and represents an important field to investigate the reasons of the increase of acute cardiovascular events in RA. In the present review, we focused on several mediators of autoimmunity, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which can be considered the most promising targets to prevent atherogenesis in RA. Among several mediators, the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha has been shown as a crucial factor to induce atherosclerosis in RA patients.
Novel Materials and Integration Schemes for CMOS-Based Circuits for Flexible Electronics

The development of low temperature, thin film transistor processes that has enabled flexible displays also presents opportunities for flexible electronics and flexible integrated systems. Of particular interest are possible applications in flexible, low metal content, sensor systems for unattended ground sensors, smart medical bandages, electronic ID tags for geo-location, conformal antennas, neutron/gamma-ray/x-ray detectors, etc. In this talk, we review the state-of-the-art in flexible electronics materials and devices and present recent results in our efforts to fully integrate complementary metal oxide semiconductors. We conclude with a discussion of the constraints of thin film transistors and the remaining
Stochastic analysis and simulation of grid-connected wind energy conversion system

An increasing presence of renewable energy forms, due to environmental and socio-economic reasons, in the electric power industry necessitates an assessment of the impact of these sources, on a conventional electric utility. This assessment incorporates stochastic theory to investigate the security and stability of a wind energy conversion system (WECS) on an electrical utility to quantify the limits of such a system's operation. This paper presents a model that captures the uncertainties in the system load at the wind generator bus, a method that approximates the randomness experienced by the system. Future dynamic models in development will capture noise due to wind effects. A simple model of a grid-connected WECS is presented. An index of reliability is also determined known as the mean first passage time (MFPT), the time taken for the system to leave its stability region.
Trial of an urban adolescent sexual risk-reduction intervention for rural youth: a promising but imperfect fit

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Focus on Kids (FOK), a sexual risk reduction intervention, shown to be effective among urban, African-American adoles- cents living in communities with high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, in reducing sexual risk behaviors among rural, white adolescents living in communities with low rates of sexually trans- mitted diseases. The subjects were 1,131 youth ages 12 to 16 years from 12 rural counties in West Virginia. Method: The study was a randomized, controlled, longitudinal trial of a theory-based prevention intervention. Outcomes included self-reported sexual behaviors and perceptions assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 months after intervention. Results: At baseline, 21% of youth were sexually experienced; 80% reported using a condom at last episode of intercourse. Rates of behaviors did not differ based on intervention assignment (FOK vs control group) after adjusting for baseline differences at any follow-up period among the full cohort or among the subset of youth who completed the intervention curriculum to which they were assigned. Perceptions of risk and protective behaviors were positively influenced by FOK at 3, 6, and 9 months in a fashion consistent with the guiding model of behavioral change and the FOK curriculum. Conclusions: Consistent with previous studies of FOK in high-risk urban areas, some perceptions were positively altered by FOK in these rural areas, although many of these changes did not persist through 9 months of follow-up. In contrast to previous studies, self-reported sexual risk behaviors did not decrease among FOK youth. FOK was not associated with any increases in sexual risk behaviors. © 2006 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.
An exploratory study on promising cues in deception detection and application of decision tree

Automatic deception detection (ADD) becomes more and more important. ADD can be facilitated with the development of data mining techniques. In the paper we focus on decision tree to automatic classify deceptions. The major question is how to select experiment data (input data for training in decision tree) so that it maximally benefits the decision tree performance. We investigate promising level of the cues of experiment data, and then adjust the applications in decision tree accordingly. Five comparative decision tree experiments demonstrate that tree performance, such as accurate rate and complexity, is dramatically improved by statistically and semantically selecting cues.
Sixteen years of Florida Current Transport at 27° N

Daily transports of the Florida Current have been inferred since 1982 through the use of submerged submarine telephone cables that measure the voltage difference across the Straits of Florida. Using all sixteen years of data, the annual cycle ranges from a minimum of 30 Sv in January, to a maximum of 33.5 Sv in July. The annual cycle is not stable throughout the entire period however: the first eight years show a slightly larger peak-to-peak annual range of 5 Sv, while the second eight years have a semi-annual cycle 6rith a distinct minimum in July and peak-to-peak range of 4 Sv. Filtered Florida Current transports contain a two to three year variation between 2 and 3 Sv in amplitude and a decadal variation of about q- 2 Sv. The decadal changes in the Florida Current transport are significantly correlated (R=0.75 at 95% significance) to the North Atlantic Oscillation Index.
Eigenfeatures for planar pose measurement of partially occluded objects

Planar pose measurement from images is an important problem for automated assembly and inspection. In addition to accuracy and robustness, ease of use is very important for real world applications. Recently, Murase and Nayar have presented the "parametric eigenspace " for object recognition and pose measurement based on training images. Although their system is easy to use, it has potential problems with background clutter and partial occlusions. We present an algorithm that is robust in these terms. It uses several small features on the object rather than a monolithic template. These "eigenfeatures" are matched using a median statistic, giving the system robustness in the face of background clutter and partial occlusions. We demonstrate our algorithm's pose measurement accuracy with a controlled test, and we demonstrate its detection robustness on cluttered images with the objects of interest partially occluded.
Management of Intermittent Exotropia

NTERMITTENT EXOTROPIA can be one I of the most frustrating types of strabismus to treat, or it can be one of the most satisfying. We must realize that no matter how ideal the surgery, approximately 40% to 45% of the cases will be immediately undercorrected or will recur in time and require further treatment. The remaining 5% to 10% will remain as permanent overcorrections unless properly Not only is it important that we understand these facts, but it also important that the parents be made aware of these possible undesirable responses to surgery. In our office, the parents are told of these possible problems following surgery, and that patching, special glasses, and even more than one operation may be necessary to effect a functional cure. Also, they are given an information sheet reviewing our office discussion. Once we realize that the initial surgery will correct approximately half of the patients and that proper management of undercorrections and overcorrections is the key to a high success rate,
Integrative behavioral couple therapy for chronic pain: Promoting behavior change and emotional acceptance

Couple therapy has been used with success in treating marital distress, psychological distress, and other problems. Researchers in the pain field have also shown that the inclusion of the spouse in pain treatment may be beneficial to the patient. In this article, we present integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) as one option for therapists treating patients who have pain and marital distress. IBCT improves on traditional behavior therapy because it promotes processes that have been shown to be lacking in pain patients' relationships: emotional acceptance and empathy. After reviewing the use of behavior change and emotional acceptance strategies in couples, we describe a couple for whom IBCT improved functioning.
Use of a Recombinant Envelope Protein Subunit Antigen for Specific Serological Diagnosis of West Nile Virus Infection

Serological diagnosis of West Nile virus (WNV) infection is complicated by extensive antigenic cross-reactivity with other closely related flaviviruses, such as St. Louis encephalitis virus. Here we describe a recombinant, bacterially expressed antigen equivalent to structural domain III of the WNV envelope protein that has allowed clear discrimination of antibody responses to WNV from those against other related flaviviruses in indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using standardized control antisera and field-collected samples.
Uranium-series constraints on radionuclide transport and groundwater flow at the Nopal I uranium deposit, Sierra Pena Blanca, Mexico.

Uranium-series data for groundwater samples from the Nopal I uranium ore deposit were obtained to place constraints on radionuclide transport and hydrologic processes for a nuclear waste repository located in fractured, unsaturated volcanic tuff. Decreasing uranium concentrations for wells drilled in 2003 are consistent with a simple physical mixing model that indicates that groundwater velocities are low (∼10 m/y). Uranium isotopic constraints, well productivities, and radon systematics also suggest limited groundwater mixing and slow flow in the saturated zone. Uranium isotopic systematics for seepage water collected in the mine adit show a spatial dependence which is consistent with longer water−rock interaction times and higher uranium dissolution inputs at the front adit where the deposit is located. Uranium-series disequilibria measurements for mostly unsaturated zone samples indicate that 230Th/238U activity ratios range from 0.005 to 0.48 and 226Ra/238U activity ratios range from 0.006 to 113. 239...
Snow-Patch Influence on Soil Biogeochemical Processes and Invertebrate Distribution in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Abstract The McMurdo Dry Valleys is the largest of the ice-free areas in Antarctica. Precipitation events in excess of 1 cm of snow accumulation are rare. During the winter, snow is transported by strong katabatic winds blowing from the polar plateau, and deposited into the lee of topographic features (e.g., stream channels and other topographic depressions). At the start of the austral summer (early October), as much as 10% of the valley soils may be covered by distributed snow patches. Because liquid water is the primary driver of biological, physical, and chemical processes in this polar desert, quantifying fluxes of water from snow patches is important to understanding the influence of hydrology on soil biology and nutrient cycling. During the austral summer of 1999–2000, four snow patches that had developed during the previous winter in Taylor Valley were studied. We measured snow-patch area, depth, and snow water equivalent, as well as subnivian (under snow) and nearby exposed (control) soil tempera...
The Weekday Chemist: The Training of Aleksandr Borodin

Aleksandr Porfir’evich Borodin (1833-1887) is most commonly recognized today as one of Russia’s most distinguished musical composers, a member of the so-called Mighty Five. He spent his entire career, however, as professor of chemistry at the Medico-Surgical Academy in St. Petersburg. This essay traces Borodin’s biography, and explores the historiographical and personal clashes between his musical and scientific “careers.” Instead of essentializing one of these careers as the “true” one, it argues instead for a focus on Borodin’s preoccupation with proper training in both the sciences and in music.
Induction of apoptosis and regulation of gene expression in NCI-H82 cell line of small cell lung cancer by YXLST-external-Qi-engineered culture medium

4949 Various exceptional therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine in ancient and modern history are thought to be the results of enhanced Qi function and the beneficial effects of external Qi emitted by trained Qi-emitting doctor(s). A body of substantial contemporary scientific studies has recorded the extraordinary effects of external Qi of Yan Xin Life Science Technology (YXLST) on living and non-living systems. We have recently reported an anticancer property of external Qi of YXLST on NCI-H82 cell line of small cell lung cancer and that external Qi of YXLST induced down-regulation of oncogene expression and up-regulation of death-promoting genes (Yan et al., 2005 AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics: Discovery, Biology, and Clinical Applications). To further this study, external Qi of YXLST was incorporated into culture medium and the effect of this engineered culture medium on NCI-H82 cell line of small cell lung cancer was examined. Flowcytometric detection of cell apoptosis was performed to study the effect of YXLST-external-Qi-engineered culture medium on human lung cancer cells. The data showed that compared to the non-treated medium, YXLST-external-Qi-engineered culture medium induced dramatic apoptosis in cultured lung cancer cells. The effect of the YXLST external-Qi-engineered culture medium on lung cancer cell gene expression was further investigated using cDNA microarray technology. Of the 21,329 human genes examined, 657 genes are found significantly altered in response to the treatment of YXLST-external-Qi-incorporated culture medium in lung cancer cells. Eight of the altered genes have been further validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and by relative quantitative RT-PCR for their associations with the unique functions of the lung cancer cells. Among the down-regulated genes are: DEK oncogene (NM_003472); Fus-1 protein, a candidate lung cancer protein (NM_007275); Small cell lung carcinoma cluster 4 antigen (NM_013230); A homolog of the lung carcinoma myc-related oncogene 1 (BC011864); Integrin, alpha 9, which is related to the development of lung cancer (NM_002207); Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A; Lung cancer antigen NY-LU-1 (NM_000034). Genes that are up-regulated by the YXLST-external-Qi-incorporated culture medium include: Cell death-inducing DFFA-like effector b (NM_014430) and; Programmed cell death 7 (BC016992). These data show that YXLST-external-Qi-engineered culture medium can induce apoptosis and alter multiple gene expression in lung cancer cells. Although the exact mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of the external Qi remain unclear, the external Qi of YXLST may induce apoptosis in cancer cells, in part, by regulating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis and cancer development.
The Family System of Suicidal Children

The organizational characteristics of the family system of psychiatrically hospitalized suicidal latency-age children include lack of generational boundaries, severely conflicted spouse relationships, parental feelings projected into the child, symbiotic parent-child relations, and an inflexible family system. Five cases illustrate a spectrum of family psychopathology and resultant childhood suicidal tendencies. Language: en
Relapse of Hairy Cell Leukemia After 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine: Long-Term Follow-Up of the Northwestern University Experience

Although 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) is effective in inducing complete remissions (CRs) in the majority of patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL), neither the actual relapse rate, the clinical factors that may predict relapse, the long-term outcome, nor the response rate to re-treatment at relapse has been clearly determined. Fifty-two consecutive patients with previously untreated or treated HCL were treated with 2-CdA at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/d by continuous intravenous infusion for 7 days. Of 50 assessable patients, 40 (80%) achieved CR, and 9 (18%) achieved partial remission (PR). A total of 7 patients (14%) have relapsed, at a median duration of 24 months (range, 12 to 44). Of the 7 relapsed patients, 5 were re-treated with a second cycle of 2-CdA; 2 achieved a second CR and 3 attained a PR. The progression-free survival (PFS) rate is 72% at 4 years for all 52 patients and 83% for patients achieving CR. The overall survival (OS) rate is 86% at 4 years. Only prior therapy was predictive of relapse. The majority of patients achieve durable CRs with a single cycle of 2-CdA. The relapse rate is low and the long-term prognosis is excellent. The few patients who relapse can attain second remissions after re-treatment with 2-CdA.
Outcomes following implementation of a pediatric procedural sedation guide for referral to general anesthesia for magnetic resonance imaging studies

Summary Background/Aims Guidelines for referral of children to general anesthesia (GA) to complete MRI studies are lacking. We devised a pediatric procedural sedation guide to determine whether a pediatric procedural sedation guide would decrease serious adverse events and decrease failed sedations requiring rescheduling with GA. Methods We constructed a consensus-based sedation guide by combining a retrospective review of reasons for referral of children to GA (n = 221) with published risk factors associated with the inability to complete the MRI study with sedation. An interrupted time series analysis of 11 530 local sedation records from the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium between July 2008 and March 2013, adjusted for case-mix differences in the pre- and postsedation guide cohorts, evaluated whether a sedation guide resulted in decreased severe adverse events (SAE) and failed sedation rates. Results A significant increase in referrals to GA following implementation of a sedation guide occurred (P < 0.001), and fewer children with an ASA-PS class ≥III were sedated using procedural sedation (P < 0.001). There was no decrease in SAE (P = 0.874) or in SAE plus airway obstruction with concurrent hypoxia (P = 0.435). There was no change in the percentage of failed sedations (P = 0.169). Conclusions More studies are needed to determine the impact of a sedation guide on pediatric procedural sedation services.
Small Signal Analysis of Power Systems With Wind and Energy Storage Units

A study of small signal behavior of power systems including wind generation units and energy capacitor systems (ECSs) is presented in this paper. Modeling of wind units with squirrel-cage induction generators connected to power system through a full-scale AC/AC converter and ECS unit are explained thoroughly. The ECS unit (considered in this paper) consists of electric double-layer capacitors (EDLC) and DC/AC converter. Small signal behavior of three test systems are studied and compared with one another using digital computer simulations. The three systems are: S1) WSCC 9-bus system with three conventional synchronous generators (SGs), S2) the WSCC system with one of the conventional SGs replaced by a wind energy system, and S3) the same as S2) but with the addition of an ECS unit. The study includes comparing of dominant eigenvalues, the participant state variables, and the related participation factors for the three systems. In addition, the effects of loading on the unstable modes of the system with conventional SG, wind and ECS units (system S3) are studied using the trajectory of these modes as loads are increased.
Radioactive Tracers in Medicine

From an esoteric subject with perhaps one or two clinical applications to a full-fledged medical discipline relevant to everyday practice, nuclear medicine has grown exponentially in the past two decades. What are its present uses? Wherein lie its future potentials? How can one define the principles and techniques of value to the physician seeking to broaden his diagnostic and therapeutic spectrum?