cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risks of allosensitization in HeartMate left ventricular assist device recipients: The impact of leukofiltered cellular blood product transfusions

Objective Allosensitization of left ventricular assist device recipients has been associated with perioperative transfusion of cellular blood products. The relative sensitizing contribution of leukofiltered cellular blood products, however, remains unclear. We investigated the pattern of sensitization in left ventricular assist device recipients in relation to cellular blood product transfusions received. Methods Seventy-one consecutive nonsensitized recipients of the HeartMate left ventricular assist device (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, Calif) as a bridge to transplantation were reviewed. Panel-reactive HLA antibody levels at consecutive times after device implantation were correlated with perioperative cellular blood product transfusions. Results Fifty-four patients received leukofiltered cellular blood products (transfused), whereas 17 patients received only fresh-frozen plasma (nontransfused). Among nontransfused patients, 58.8% (10/17) became sensitized during mechanical support, versus 35.2% of transfused patients (19/54, P = .15). There was a trend toward more sensitization during the 12 weeks after device placement in nontransfused patients. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed significantly more sensitization in nontransfused patients than in transfused patients, despite equal rates of transplantation ( P = .05). A dose-response analysis revealed significant trends toward less sensitization and lower peak panel-reactive antibody level with more cellular blood product transfusions ( P = .04). Multivariate Cox regression revealed only increasing transfusions to be associated with a reduced risk of sensitization (hazard ratio 0.18, P = .01). Conclusions Sensitization becomes more prevalent with increasing length of support. Avoidance of perioperative leukocyte-filtered cellular blood product transfusions does not decrease the incidence or degree of HLA sensitization. Conversely, cellular blood product transfusions may be associated with lessened alloimmunization and may mitigate the sensitization seen in recipients of the HeartMate left ventricular assist device as a bridge to transplantation.
Accurate measurement of three-dimensional deformations in deformable and rigid bodies using computer vision

Recently, digital-image-correlation techniques have been used to accurately determine two-dimensional in-plane displacements and strains. An extension of the two-dimensional method to the acquisition of accurate, three-dimensional surfacedisplacement data from a stereo pair of CCD cameras is presented in this paper. A pin-hole camera model is used to express the transformation relating three-dimensional world coordinates to two-dimensional computer-image coordinates by the use of camera extrinsic and intrinsic parameters. Accurate camera model parameters are obtained for each camera independently by (a) using several points which have three-dimensional world coordinates that are accurate within 0.001 mm and (b) using two-dimensional image-correlation methods that are accurate to within 0.05 pixels to obtain the computer-image coordinates of various object positions. A nonlinear, least-squares method is used to select the optimal camera parameters such that the deviations between the measured and estimated image positions are minimized. Using multiple orientations of the cameras, the accuracy of the methodology is tested by performing translation tests. Using theoretical error estimates, error analyses are presented. To verify the methodology for actual tests both the displacement field for a cantilever beam and also the surface, three-dimensional displacement and strain fields for a 304L stainless-steel compact-tension specimen were experimentally obtained using stereo vision. Results indicate that the three-dimensional measurement methodology, when combined with two-dimensional digital correlation for subpixel accuracy, is a viable tool for the accurate measurement of surface displacements and strains.
Spectral properties and ring conformation of some novel 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,4-diazepinium cations

A series of 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,4-diazepinium salts, which includes fused ring systems of known ring-junction configuration, has been prepared. A study of the spectral properties indicates that this ring system is largely planar and is sufficiently flexible to permit cis and trans fusion at the 2,3-bond to 5- or 6-membered rings without significant distortion.
Effect of Cytoplasmic Domain Mutations on the Agonist-stimulated Ligand Binding Activity of the Platelet Integrin αIIbβ3

Function of the platelet integrin αIIbβ3 is regulated by agonist-generated signals interacting with its cytoplasmic tails. When αIIbβ3 is expressed in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes, stimulation of the cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate results in αIIbβ3-mediated lymphocyte adherence to immobilized fibrinogen, as well as soluble fibrinogen binding to αIIbβ3, indicating that agonists increase the affinity of αIIbβ3 for fibrinogen in these cells. To address the contribution of the αIIb and β3 cytoplasmic tails to this process, we mutated each tail and expressed the mutants in B lymphocytes. Truncation of the αIIb tail did not impair unstimulated or stimulated lymphocyte adherence to fibrinogen, regardless whether the truncation was proximal or distal to the conserved GFFKR sequence. However, deleting GFFKR or replacing it with alanines markedly reduced αIIbβ3 expression due to impaired intracellular assembly of αIIbβ3 heterodimers, probably due to a mutation-induced change in the conformation of αIIb. Introducing β3 mutations known to impair αIIbβ3 function in platelets into the cytoplasmic tail of β3 in lymphocytes also impaired αIIbβ3 function in these cells. These studies demonstrate that the cytoplasmic tail of αIIb is not required for αIIbβ3 function in lymphocytes, although the presence of GFFKR in the αIIb tail is required for αIIb to interact with β3. Additionally, they indicate that signals interacting with the β3 cytoplasmic tail are responsible for the ability of agonists to stimulate αIIbβ3 function.
1017 TIME OF INITIATION OF CPAP IN HMD

The effects of the time of application of CPAP on the mortality and morbidity of HMD were examined in 36 infants in 3 weight groups ( 0.3 or >0.7 or in the incidence of air leak or chronic lung disease. Eleven of nineteen infants assigned to late CPAP never required an FIO2≥0.7 and did not receive CPAP. The present study suggests that the early application of CPAP offers no measurable advantage over the late application of CPAP in the treatment of mild HMD.
IPA and DSI: Enhancing the Usefulness of Student Evaluation of Teaching Data

The effective use of student evaluations has been problematic due to the inability in most formats to factor in the importance of rated attributes. The utilization of two new concepts in data analysis — derived importance and determination of significant issues — can enhance the analysis process. This article demonstrates how the two methods are used and discusses the different results obtained by using each method.
REGULATION OF LYMPHOK1NE FUNCTION

Although we have focused on desensitization as an experimental model, the findings obtained suggest mechanisms by which physiological control of cell-mediated immunity is attained. Thus, such regulation may occur either at the stage of expression of lymphokine activity or at the level of lymphokine production itself. The former may involve unique suppressor molecules, but as indicated above may be due to the inflammatory lymphokines themselves. The latter appears to involve suppressor systems similar to those operative in antibody formation. Over and above any specific model for regulation, the findings presented here suggest that local fluctuations in lymphokine distribution can modulate immunologically induced inflammatory responses, either through alterations in chemotactic gradients, or by other mechanisms as yet unknown.
Dyspnoea and the ovaries: a rare presentation of Krukenberg tumour

Krukenberg tumour is a metastatic signet-ring adenocarcinoma of the ovary, usually with a gastrointestinal primary detected metachronously or synchronously. We present here a case of a 48 year-old woman who presented with a prolonged history of dyspnoea on exertion. Workup had revealed a pelvic mass. Thoracocentesis of her pleural effusion, with cytology, and pathology reports from her total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy revealed a carcinoma with signet-ring cells. Immunostains were positive for CDX2, CK7 and CK20, which was highly suggestive of a gastric primary. Colonoscopy was negative, and an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a few small crater ulcers, the biopsy of which was negative for cancer. A right-sided pleurodesis was performed for the unremitting malignant effusion, and a PleurX catheter was placed in her left pleural space. She was discharged home with a very poor prognosis.
Multi-format Continuously Variable Bitrate DPSK/OOK Demodulating Receiver Design

In this paper we demonstrate a continuously variable bitrate receiver from 10 to 40 Gbit/s for DPSK balanced demodulation. Unlike previous DPSK demodulators, this receiver is also capable of passing intensity modulated waveforms unaffected.
Outbreak of Pertussis on a College Campus

Abstract Background Pertussis is increasing among adolescents and adults despite universal childhood vaccination. This investigation describes an outbreak of pertussis among undergraduate students and assesses the burden of cough illness on a college campus. Methods Students presenting with prolonged cough were evaluated with culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serology. An e-mail survey was performed to determine the burden of cough illness on campus. Results Thirty-seven undergraduates were evaluated. Their mean duration of cough was 28 days. No student had cultures positive for B. pertussis ; one was PCR positive. Ten (27%) had serologic values consistent with acute pertussis infection. The e-mail survey was returned by 225/500 (45%) students. Of these, 66 (29%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 23%-36%) reported a cough of 2 weeks or longer duration during the fall semester. A conservative estimate showed that the campus-wide incidence of a cough illness meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition for pertussis was 13% (95% CI, 10%-16%) during the fall semester. Conclusions Adolescents and young adults are susceptible to pertussis infection. This study demonstrates that there was a substantial rate of pertussis infection during an outbreak on a college campus. Our findings support the routine use of the acellular pertussis vaccine in adolescents and adults.
Experimental investigation of real-time scheduling in flexible manufacturing systems

This paper presents a new two-phase (TP) approximate method for real-time scheduling in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). This method combines a reduced enumeration schedule generation algorithm with a 0–1 optimization algorithm. In order to make the combined algorithm practicable, heuristic rules are introduced for the selection of jobs to be scheduled. The relative performance of the TP method vis-a-vis conventional heuristic dispatching rules such as SPT, LPT, FCFS, MWKR, and LWKR is investigated using combined process-interaction/discrete-event simulation models. An efficient experimental procedure is designed and implemented using these models, and the statistical analysis of the results is presented. For the particular case investigated, the conclusions are very encouraging. In terms of mean flow time, the TP method performs significantly better than any other tested heuristic dispatching rules. Also, the experimental results show that using global information significantly improves the FMS performance.
Surface damage during machining of solution treated and aged 18% nickel maraging steel I — Unlubricated conditions

Abstract The effect of cutting speed and tool wear land length on the surface damage produced during machining of solution treated and aged 18% nickel maraging steel under lubricated orthogonal conditions was determined. Machined test pieces were examined with a scanning electron microscope and an optical microscope. Surface roughness was determined with a profilometer. The results of the investigation show that steady state machining can be carried out only over a restricted range of experimental conditions, where the surfaces generated show evidence only of fine scale surface damage. It is suggested that the fine scale surface damage is associated with the phenomenon of continuous chip formation and interaction between the tool nose region and the freshly machined workpiece surface. Comparisons are made between the characteristics of surfaces machined under lubricated and unlubricated conditions and few differences are found.
Micropolitan areas and the measurement of American urbanization

With the official designation of micropolitan areas in June 2003, as part of the new core-based statistical area system, non-metropolitan territory is no longer an undifferentiated residual. In this paper we compare the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of a preliminary set of micropolitan areas with more highly urbanized territory and with territory outside core-based statistical areas, to answer questions about the micropolitan category's conceptual validity. Demographic and economic data are used, along with a mail survey of county officials in a random sample of small metro- politan, micropolitan, and non-core-based statistical areas (non-CBSAs). The analysis shows substantial differentiation between micropolitan and non-CBSA areas, and dem- onstrates the importance of distinguishing between these two types of non-metropolitan areas. As an intermediate category, micropolitan areas provide stability to the decade- to-decade swings in non-metropolitan population change during periods of higher out- migration, but share almost equally with non-CBSA areas in attracting migrants during periods of high non-metropolitan in-migration. In terms of services available and their function as urban centers, micropolitan areas are intermediate between small metro- politan and non-CBSA areas, but more similar to small metropolitan areas.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis: review of 59 cases seen at the National Institutes of Health.

Fifty-nine cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis seen at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, are reviewed. The group of patients involved was unique in that the majority were American civilians, their disease was acquired in many different endemic areas of the world, and their illnesses represented all points on the clinical spectrum of cutaneous disease. The majority of American patients acquired leishmaniasis while engaging in activities related to their occupations. Cutaneous disease acquired in the New World usually consisted of one or two lesions, while multiple lesions often characterized Old World infections with Leishmania major. Patients with chronic relapsing or diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis were native to endemic areas and were infected at an early age. Even the localized form of cutaneous leishmaniasis was often extensive and difficult to treat. Diagnosis with culture and identification of the parasite to the subspecies level is instrumental in the selection of optimal therapy. Cutaneous leishmaniasis may be encountered increasingly often in the United States because of the frequent international travel of U.S. residents and the influx of immigrants from endemic areas of the world.
SIDEROCHROMES IN CYANOPHYCEAE: ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SCHIZOKINEN FROM ANABAENA SP.1

SUMMARY Schizokinen, a high affinity iron transport compound (siderochrome), previously described from Bacillus megaterium, has been isolated and characterized from low-iron cultures of a bluegreen alga, Anabaena sp. No conclusive evidence for production of an iron-repressible hydroxamate or catechol type siderochrome was observed in certain other bluegreen algae, such as Anabaena cylindrica Lemm., Coccochloris peniocystis (Kutz.) Drouet & Daily, Anacystis sp., Gloeocapsa alpicola (Lyng.) Born. or Chroococcus sp.
1H CRAMPS Based on TREV

Abstract Line-narrowing effects of the 1 H TREV-8 pulse sequence applied to solids rotating at the magic angle have been examined. Polycrystalline samples of adipic, malonic, and fumaric acids, adamantane, a barley seed, and a pyridine-saturated coal sample were examined. The TREV-based 1 H CRAMPS technique is seen to provide reasonably effective line narrowing for both "soft" solids (adamantane) and rigid solids (carboxylic acids), enabling 1 H chemical-shift fine structure to be observed. For adamantane, the 1 H linewidth is reduced from about 13 kHz (static) to 40 Hz (CRAMPS) at a 840 Hz MAS rate and a pulse spacing (τ) of 7.8 μs. The line-narrowing efficiency increases for larger τ values, but does not approach the efficiency of BR-24. However, unlike the case for BR-24 or other multiple-pulse line-narrowing sequences based on the formation of solid echoes, the line-narrowing efficiency of TREV-8 is sustained for large offsets; this feature, along with a relatively large bandwidth, may be an important factor when the sequence is implemented in 19 F CRAMPS and in solid-sample imaging studies. TREV-CRAMPS may also be useful for samples in which the somewhat inferior line-narrowing behavior may be masked by line-broadening effects not based on homonuclear dipolar interactions.
Peroxidation of polyunsaturated phosphatidyl-choline lipids during electroformation

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have been utilized both as model systems to study the physico-chemical properties of biomembranes and as host materials for investigating biological processes in microbioreactors. GUVs are commonly formed by an electroformation technique. However, there is a concern that the electric fields applied during electroformation can peroxidize lipid acyl chains, thereby altering the phospholipid composition and material properties of the synthesized vesicles. Here in this paper, we report the effect of electroformation on the extent of peroxidation of a number of polyunsaturated phosphatidyl-choline lipids (PULs). Specifically, we detected peroxidation byproducts (malonaldehydes and conjugated dienes) of the following lipids utilizing UV/Vis spectroscopy: dilinoleoyl phosphatidyl-choline (DLPC) (di-18:2 PC), dilinolenoyl phosphatidyl-choline (DNPC) (di-18:3 PC), diarachidonoyl phosphatidyl-choline (DAPC) (di-20:4 PC), and didocosaheexaenoyl phosphatidyl-choline (DHA) (di-22:6 PC). The results indicate that PC PULs lipids are prone to peroxidation, with increasing unsaturation levels leading to higher levels of peroxidation byproducts. The levels of peroxidation byproducts of DAPC were found to depend linearly on the strength of the electric field, indicating that the observed effects were due to the applied electric field. Lipid peroxidation can affect a number of important membrane properties, including domain formation and mechanical stability. Thus, alteration of the chemical composition of polyunsaturated lipids (PULs) by the electroformation technique can potentially complicate the interpretation of experimental studies that utilize GUVs composed of PULs.
Application of Ground-Water Flow Theory to a Subsurface Oil Spilla

Fuel oil, underlying approximately four acres, was discovered floating on the water table beneath oil products' storage tanks. The oil, of unknown origin, originally was observed discharging to a river adjacent to the storage tank area from an abandoned clay tile. Approximately 35,000 gallons (132,500 liters) of oil were intercepted and contained prior to the field investigation by borings. Hantush's (1968) theory for the formation of a fresh-water lens in an unconfined saline aquifer was used to examine the decay of an oil lens resulting from a catastrophic oil spill at the site. The theory indicated that too much time had elapsed from the first detection of oil at the surface to the collection of subsurface information to make it feasible to speculate on the precise nature of the spill event–catastrophic or a slow leak. Application of the theory and consideration of the ground-water hydrology of the site did make it possible to identify the probable source area of the spill. Analysis of the flow system also assisted in the selection of the appropriate collection system to clean-up the spill. Subsequent to the boring program, an electrical resistivity survey was conducted to test the feasibility of delineating the extent of the subsurface oil by this method. Only modest success was achieved, apparently because of the thinness of the oil-bearing zone.
Evolutionary conservation and characterization of the bare lymphocyte syndrome transcription factor RFX-B and its paralogue ANKRA2

The extraordinary homology between major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) proteins across species from human to bony fish suggests that transcription factors that regulate these proteins might be conserved as well. Deficiencies in four proteins that regulate MHC II genes in humans (RFX-B, RFX5, RFXAP, and CIITA) cause an inherited immunodeficiency disorder known as the bare lymphocyte syndrome (BLS). To understand the structure and mechanism of function of the BLS transcription factors, we analyzed the evolutionary history of RFX-B, the factor deficient in the majority of patients with BLS. Sequence comparison and analysis of the RFX-B proteins showed that RFX-B and a closely related protein, ANKRA2, are present in humans to bony fish and that specific domains are highly conserved. In addition to sequence conservation, functional conservation exists, as mouse and Xenopus RFX-B orthologues, but not the paralogous protein ANKRA2, were able to complement the MHC II deficiency in a BLS-patient-derived cell line deficient in RFX-B. The remarkable conservation of the RFX-B lineage attests to the conservation of the regulation mechanism for this gene system and its importance to precisely regulate MHC class II molecules in both the developing and active immune response.
Inhibitory activity of 2-nitropropanol against select food-borne pathogens in vitro.

Y.S. JUNG, R.C. ANDERSON, T.R. CALLAWAY, T.S. EDRINGTON, K.J. GENOVESE, R.B. HARVEY, T.L. POOLE AND D.J. NISBET. 2004. Aims: To test the inhibitory activity of 2-nitro-1-propanol (2NPOH) against Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Enterococcus faecalis. Methods and Results: Specific growth rates (h )1 )o fS. Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7 and Ent. faecalis were determined during culture in tryptic soya broth (TSB) supplemented with 0‐10 mM M 2NPOH. Growth rates were inhibited by 2NPOH, with nearly complete inhibition observed with 10 mM. Studies with S. Typhimurium revealed that its survivability during culture in TSB containing 5 or 10 mM 2NPOH was lower (P <0 AE05) under aerobic than anaerobic conditions. The survivability of Salmonella during anaerobic culture in TSB containing 2AE 5m M 2NPOH was less at pH 5AE6 than at pH 7AE0 and 8AE0. No Salmonella survived anaerobic incubation in TSB supplemented with 10 mM 2NPOH regardless of pH. When incubated in suspensions of freshly collected populations of ruminal and faecal bacteria, Salmonella concentrations were lower (P <0 AE05) in suspensions containing 10 mM M 2NPOH than in suspensions containing no 2NPOH. Conclusions: 2NPOH inhibited S. Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7 and Ent. faecalis. Significance and Impact of the Study: Results suggest that 2NPOH may be a useful antimicrobial supplement to reduce carriage of certain food-borne pathogens in food animals.
FluNet: A hybrid internet simulator for fast queue regimes

Motivated by the scale and complexity of simulating large-scale networks, recent research has focused on hybrid fluid/packet simulators, where fluid models are combined with packet models in order to reduce simulation complexity as well as to track dynamics of end-sources accurately. However, these simulators still need to track the queuing dynamics of network routers, leading to considerable simulation complexity in a large-scale network model. In this paper, we propose a new hybrid simulator - FluNet - where queueing dynamics are not tracked, but instead, an equivalent rate-based model is used. The FluNet simulator is predicated on a fast-queueing regime at bottleneck routers, where the queue length fluctuates on a faster time-scale than end systems. This allows us to simulate large-scale systems, where the simulation ''time step-size'' is governed only by the time-scale of the end-systems, and not by that of the intermediate routers; whereas a queue-tracking based fluid simulator would require decreasingly smaller step-sizes as the system scale size increases. We validate our model using a ns-2 based implementation. Our results indicate a good match between packet systems and the associated FluNet system.
Milling maps for phase identification during mechanical alloying

Mechanical alloying (MA), a high-energy ball milling technique, has been employed to produce oxidedispersion-strengthened nickel and iron-base superalloys since the 1960's [1,2]. In recent years, use of this solid-state powder processing technique has been extended to the synthesis of a variety of stable and metastable phases (supersaturated solid solutions, crystalline and quasicrystalline intermediate phases and metallic glasses) starting from either blended elemental or pre-alloyed powders [3-5]. Since the MA process involves repeated welding, fracturing and rewelding operations leading to microstructural refinement [6], the amount of mechanical energy input is a critical parameter in determining the constitution of the final product [7].
Men's and Women's Self-Confidence in Persuasive, Comforting, and Justificatory Communicative Tasks"

The self-confidence of men and women was assessed in three types of interpersonal communicative situations. Participants indicated anticipated level of success, evaluated their performance, and assessed the extent to which the outcome was due to ability and to effort. The most striking finding was higher self-confidence in women than in men in comforting tasks. No difference emerged in level of self-confidence between men and women in persuasive tasks. Men tended to anticipate more success in justifying decisions, but following their performance, did not rate either the quality of the performance or their ability higher than did women.
Mixed Fourier/Walsh transform scheme for speech coding at 4.0 kbit/s

A mixed Fourier/Walsh transform scheme for speech coding is proposed. A set of harmonically structured frequency components is used to represent narrow-band components of speech. The broadband residual is characterised by a small number of sequency components. The frequencies and sequencies of the transform components are determined by sampling the shorttime Fourier and Walsh transforms, respectively. The magnitudes and phases of the Fourier components and the amplitudes of the Walsh components are determined using an iterative algorithm based on the Gauss-Seidel method. A vector quantisation (VQ) scheme is developed to encode the frequency and the sequency components. Results and subjective evaluations are given for speech coding at 4.0 kbit/s
Relation of temperature to the duration of the development of insects.

THE relationship between temperature and the mean hatching time of eggs is of the same pattern for most insect species. The mean hatching time decreases as the temperature increases until the so-called peak temperature is reached; this is the temperature at which the mean hatching time attains its minimal value. At temperatures above the peak, the observed mean hatching time increases with increasing temperature.
Violators of a child passenger safety law.

BACKGROUND: Nonuse of child car safety seats (CSSs) remains significant; in 2000, 47% of occupant fatalities among children <5 years of age involved unrestrained children. Nonusers and part-time users of CSSs represent small proportions of the US population that have not responded to intervention efforts. Our study examined the factors contributing to nonuse or part-time use of CSSs and the effects of exposure to a class for violators of the California Child Passenger Safety (CPS) law. METHODS: Focus groups (in English and Spanish) were conducted with individuals cited for violation of the law (N = 24). A thematic analysis of notes made by an observer, supplemented by audiotapes of the sessions, was conducted. In addition, a study of the effects of exposure to a violator class on knowledge and correct CSS use was conducted among violators. Certified CPS technicians conducted the classes and interviews. Subjects were parents cited as the driver with a child of 20 to 40 pounds, between 12 and 47 months of age. One hundred subjects recruited from the class were compared with 50 subjects who did not attend a class. Follow-up home interviews, with inspection of CCS use, were conducted 3 months after payment of the fine and completion of all court requirements. Fisher's exact test was used for 2 x 2 tables, because some of the tables had small cell sizes. The Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used for child restraint use, knowledge, and correct use scales, because some of these variables were not normally distributed. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the effects of several variables on these parameters. RESULTS: Factors influencing CSS nonuse were 1) lifestyle factors, 2) transportation and trip circumstances, 3) nonparent or nondriver issues, 4) parenting style, 5) child's behavior, and 6) perceived risks of nonuse. Violator subjects were mostly Hispanic and female, with incomes of less than 30,000 dollars per year. Those exposed to the class (citation and education group) scored 1 point higher on a knowledge test and had 1 more item correct on a CSS use instrument than did the group not exposed to the class (citation only group). In the logistic model, the citation and education group scored higher on the 2 items that were corrected by the instructor during the class. CONCLUSION: Our focus group study of CPS law violators revealed that multiple complex factors influence consistent use of a CSS. The interplay of the particular vehicle, the trip circumstances, and family/parent/child factors affected the use of a CSS at the time of parent citation. Addressing transportation issues and parenting skills in CPS programs is necessary. Among parents who had been ticketed for not restraining their children, exposure to a violator class demonstrated some benefit, compared with a fine alone. Correct CSS use improved most on items corrected by the instructor. Violator classes that include "hands-on" training show promise for improving rates of correct use of CSSs.
Enhancing the practice of physics teachers: Mechanisms for the generation and sharing of knowledge and understanding in collaborative action research

This article reports on a study of physics teachers engaged in collaborative action research. The purpose of the study was to examine and identify ways that teachers' knowledge about teaching and their educational situations grow when they are engaged collaboratively with other teachers in inquiry on their own practice. Individualist and social constructivist perspective were used to design the study and to collect and analyze data. Data sources included interviews of the teachers, classroom observations, transcripts of the collaborative action research meetings, and teachers' writing. The guiding methodology was naturalistic inquiry, and data were analyzed through the development of grounded theory to construct coding categories. A case study was written using the analysis. It was found that three mechanisms were used by the teachers to generate and share knowledge and understanding about their practices. This enhancement of normal practice includes anecdote telling, the trying out of ideas, and systematic inquiry. A second finding was that teachers' knowledge and understanding can grow through authentic being-in-the-world and through enhanced normal practice. The study suggests that if each of the mechanisms of enhanced normal practice is seen to be a legitimate form of research, then action research can be embedded in teachers' practice, and can then play an important role in teacher education and the reform of science education. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Measurement of device parameters using image recovery techniques in large-scale IC devices

Devices that respond to radiation on a cell level will produce distributions showing the relative frequency of cell response to radiation damage, i.e., a probability distribution of a cell to be damaged a certain amount. The measured distribution is the convolution of distributions from radiation responses, measurement noise, and manufacturing parameters. A method of extracting device characteristics and parameters from measured distributions via mathematical and image subtraction techniques is described.
Phonetic alignment constraints: consonant overlap and palatalization in English and Russian

The possibility of di!erences in phonetic alignment of phonological segments was examined by contrasting consonant sequences at word boundaries in Russian and English. In Experiment 1, two acoustic measures of consonant overlap, percent released and duration ratio, are computed for stop sequences at word boundaries, and results for English and Russian are compared. While signi"cant variation due to subject, phrase, and cluster type was found, English consistently showed signi"cantly greater overlap than Russian. A formal account of both the variation and the consistent di!erence is o!ered, incorporating the idea of phonetic alignment constraints within Byrd’s (1996b) &&phase window’’ framework. Experiment 2 examines the relationship between overlap and palatalization (or lack thereof) at word boundaries, with an acoustic study of /s#j/ sequences in both English and Russian. The claim of Zsiga (1995) that the apparent change from /s/ to /S/ in phrases such as &&press your point’’ can be attributed to overlap between the /s/ and /j/ gestures is tested and partially supported. In addition to alignment constraints, however, additional phonetic constraints must be taken into account. It is concluded that phonetic constraints must di!er from phonological both in containing quantitative information and in being evaluated through weighting rather than strict dominance. ( 2000 Academic Press
Inflammation and Endometrial Cancer: A Hypothesis

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States. Substantial epidemiologic data implicate an imbalance of estrogens and progestogens in the etiology of this disease. We propose that inflammation also plays a role in endometrial cancer development. Emerging laboratory data suggest that elevated levels of prostaglandin E(2) may underlie the transformation of normal endometrium to neoplastic tissue and that in vitro nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may inhibit endometrial cancer cell growth. In this review, we suggest that the risk factors for endometrial cancer--unopposed estrogens, anovulation, polycystic ovary syndrome, excessive menstruation, early menarche, and late menopause--may be viewed as factors increasing the exposure of the endometrium to inflammation, whereas pregnancy and smoking, two likely protective factors, have the opposite effect. Chronic inflammation can induce rapid cell division, increasing the possibility for replication error, ineffective DNA repair, and subsequent mutations. A proinflammatory milieu can also directly increase estrogen production. Hence, inflammation may work in conjunction with or in addition to estrogen exposure in the development of endometrial cancer.
Periaqueductal gray An interface for behavioral control

AD= : Alzheimer disease; DBS= : deep brain stimulation; GABA= : γ-aminobutyric acid; NO= : nitric oxide; PAG= : periaqueductal gray; PVG= : periventricular gray matter; RVM= : rostral ventromedial medulla; TRPV1= : transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1; VLM= : ventrolateral medulla The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is an anatomic and functional interface between the forebrain and the lower brainstem and has a major role in integrated behavioral responses to internal (e.g., pain) or external (e.g., threat) stressors. The PAG consists of distinct columns that receive selective inputs from the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus, and nociceptive pathways. Via its connections with different brainstem nuclei, the PAG coordinates specific patterns of cardiovascular, respiratory, motor, and pain modulatory responses. These responses vary according to the type of stress and the subject's perception of the threatening stimulus. The PAG is also involved in vocalization, micturition, and thermoregulation, and contributes to mechanisms of arousal and control of REM sleep. The PAG is affected in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and multiple system atrophy. Stimulation of the PAG has been utilized for management of chronic neuropathic pain and recent evidence suggests that it may also be used to relieve refractory hypertension. The organization of the PAG and its multiple functions have been the subjects of several reviews.1,–,11 ### Anatomic subdivisions and neurochemistry. The PAG is continuous with the periventricular gray matter (PVG) and surrounds the midbrain aqueduct except for ventral part, which contains oculomotor-related nuclei rostrally and the dorsal raphe nucleus caudally (figure). Based on cytoarchitecture, chemoarchitecture, and connectivity patterns, the PAG has been subdivided into 4 columns: dorsomedial, dorsolateral, lateral, and ventrolateral.2,–,5 The PAG contains different types of neurons that utilize l-glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), opioids (particularly enkephalin), substance P, neurotensin, and other neurotransmitters. The dorsolateral PAG also contains neurons that express NADPH-diaphorase and synthesize nitric oxide (NO)12; the ventrolateral PAG contains a group of dopaminergic neurons.13 There is also abundant expression of NMDA,14 GABAA,15 μ-opioid,16 neurokinin-1,17 and transient receptor …
Volumetric three-dimensional recognition of biological microorganisms using multivariate statistical method and digital holography

We present a new statistical approach to real-time sensing and recognition of microorganisms using digital holographic microscopy. We numerically produce many section images at different depths along a longitudinal direction from the single digital hologram of three-dimensional (3D) microorganisms in the Fresnel domain. For volumetric 3D recognition, the test pixel points are randomly selected from the section image; this procedure can be repeated with different specimens of the same microorganism. The multivariate joint density functions are calculated from the pixel values of each section image at the same random pixel points. The parameters of the statistical distributions are compared using maximum likelihood estimation and statistical inference algorithms. The performance of the proposed system is illustrated with preliminary experimental results.
Effects of applied electric fields on the quantum yields for the initial electron transfer steps in bacterial photosynthesis. II. Dynamic Stark effect

The quantum yield of the initial charge separation steps in bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers has been shown to be reduced in an applied electric field [Part I, Lao et al., J. Phys. Chem. 97 (1993) 13165]. The mechanism of this quantum yield failure is examined further by measuring the orientations of the subpopulations which return to the ground state in an electric field. Information on the orientations of these subpopulations can be obtained by measuring the Stark effect spectrum of the transient population, the dynamic Stark spectrum, whose lineshape is sensitive to orientation. This is a generally useful method, whose application is developed for general cases. It is shown that considerably more information on orientational subpopulations can be obtained than by conventional photoselection or dichroism methods. In the case of reaction center quantum yield failure, the dynamic Stark spectrum is analyzed to extract information on the absolute orientations of electric dipoles which lead to quantum yield failure. A numerical procedure using the maximum entropy method is developed to map out the most unbiased orientation distribution function from the dynamic Stark spectrum. The distribution of the transient orientational subpopulation depends on the magnitude of the interaction between the applied field and the transient dipole moment(s) associated with the electron transfer intermediate(s) responsible for quantum yield failure. The resulting orientation distribution function suggests that at least two electric-field-dependent mechanisms are important. Based on the X-ray structure of the reaction center, the results are analyzed in terms of contributions from charge-separated states involving internal charge separation within the special pair (P ÷ P-), the monomeric bacteriochlorophyll ( P + B - ) and bacteriopheophytin (P+H-), each of which can provide field-sensitive shunts to the ground state. Possible relationships with the dynamics of mutants which affect the redox potential of participants in electron transfer are discussed.
Adolescent Medicine Practice In Urban Pittsburgh — 1990

Adolescent medicine has emerged as a discipline in the present era with few key curricular or skill areas clarified and little consensus regarding the acceptance and interest generated in pediatricians by this area. This investigation was undertaken to ascertain present adolescent medicine practice patterns in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The data generated are intended to serve as a basis for future comparisons. The methodology was a questionnaire design, with 178 (54%) of the questionnaires returned and subjected to analysis. The results indicated that 6% of pediatricians actually limit their practices to patients 16 years of age or younger, and 65% limit their practices to patients younger than 19 years of age. Most practices (64%) do not have a gynecological table. Only 20% of practices offer clinical services which would match the needs of adolescent patients, such as the prescription of oral contraceptives, counseling for homosexuality, or treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Most interestingly...
The effect of concrete shielding on cosmic ray induced soft fails in electronic systems

Calculations are made of the sea level flux of cosmic rays after attenuation by various layers of concrete. These attenuated fluxes are then used to calculate the rate at which they induce burst of electronic charge in silicon. It is shown that for bursts up to 3 × 105electrons the burst rate increases dramatically up to thicknesses of 10 m of concrete shielding. The soft fail rate in an 8-Mbyte semiconductor memory is calculated for various layers of concrete shielding.
Pregnant Women at Work

Research suggests that pregnant women are discriminated against in the workplace and that a significant percentage of new mothers leave the workforce. Few researchers have examined the link between women’s discriminatory experiences and workforce attrition, instead of focusing on either individual-level factors (e.g., income) or workplace factors (e.g., workplace support) that predict turnover. We integrate previous findings on individual and workplace factors within a stigma framework that takes into account pregnant women’s anticipated and experienced stigma. We hypothesized that pregnant women’s anticipated and experienced stigma would mediate the relationships between individual (e.g., gender role attitudes) and workplace factors (e.g., workplace support) and job satisfaction, psychological well-being, and turnover intentions. Using a three-wave longitudinal design, we surveyed 142 pregnant women during and after their pregnancies, and we used path analysis to test mediational models. Results indicate...
Do Going-Private Transactions Affect Plant Efficiency and Investment?

We examine whether constraints on public firms affect firms' efficiency by testing if going private improves plant-level productivity relative to peer control groups. We find that, despite increases in productivity after going private, there is little evidence of efficiency gains relative to peer groups of plants constructed to control for industry, age, size, past productivity, and the endogeneity of the going-private decision. Going-private firms do extensively restructure their portfolio of plants, selling and closing plants more quickly than others. Our findings cast doubt on the view that public markets cause listed firms to operate plants less efficiently due to overinvestment but indicate that going private increases restructuring activity.
COPE for the Treatment of Depressed Adolescents: Lessons Learned From Implementing an Evidence-Based Practice Change

Background: Despite a U.S. prevalence of 9%, less than 25% of depressed adolescents receive evidence-based treatment. Objective: To describe lessons learned from implementing the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) program in a community mental health practice as part of an evidence-based practice change to improve an advanced practice psychiatric nurse’s clinical practice and provide treatment for depressed teens. Design: A preexperimental one-group pre- and posttest design was used to assess the feasibility and effects of a brief manualized seven-session cognitive-behavioral skills–building intervention titled COPE delivered to 15 depressed adolescents in routine 30-minute mental health medication management outpatient visits. Results: Applying the evidence-based practice model led to improved adolescent outcomes. Adolescents reported significant decreases in depression, anxiety, anger, and destructive behavior as well as increases in self-concept and personal beliefs about managing n...
Network influences on scholarly communication in developmental dyslexia: a longitudinal follow-up

Author cocitation analysis was used to explore ongoing changes in the intellectual structure of the hybrid problem area of developmental dyslexia for the period 1994-1998, and to address ambiguities in results raised by an earlier study of these researchers for the years 1976-1993. Results suggest that: (1) discrepancies between the structure of the sociometric (personal) and author cocitation networks reflect real differences, not temporal factors; (2) differences between cocitation patterns and reports in the literature, and corresponding delays in the visibility of emerging perspectives, are likely due to the "inertia" of aggregate cocitation data and/or by shifts by neuroscience-vision researchers to publication in more prominent journals; (3) a sharp rise in link density for the neuroscience-vision subgroup indicates increased cohesiveness and growing maturation for this emerging perspective; (4) shifts in subgroup membership, link density, patterns of coauthorship, and multiple factor loadings suggest possible convergence between other subgroups in the network and identify individuals who may play boundary-spanning roles within the network; and (5) changing patterns of cocitation throughout the network suggest the increasing influence of studies relating to neurobiological mechanisms underlying dyslexia. The possible contributions of such boundary spanners in addressing the substantial information and communication challenges posed by the increased interdisciplinary character of scholarship in general also are discussed.