cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fourier Methods for Estimating the Central Subspace and the Central Mean Subspace in Regression

In regression with a high-dimensional predictor vector, it is important to estimate the central and central mean subspaces that preserve sufficient information about the response and the mean response. Using the Fourier transform, we have derived the candidate matrices whose column spaces recover the central and central mean subspaces exhaustively. Under the normality assumption of the predictors, explicit estimates of the central and central mean subspaces are derived. Bootstrap procedures are used for determining dimensionality and choosing tuning parameters. Simulation results and an application to a real data are reported. Our methods demonstrate competitive performance compared with SIR, SAVE, and other existing methods. The approach proposed in the article provides a novel view on sufficient dimension reduction and may lead to more powerful tools in the future.
On the endogeneity of Cournot–Nash and Stackelberg equilibria: games of accumulation

Abstract We characterize equilibria of games with two properties: (i) Agents have the opportunity to adjust their strategic variable after their initial choices and before payoffs occur; but (ii) they can only add to their initial amounts. The equilibrium set consists of just the Cournot–Nash outcome, one or both Stackelberg outcomes, or a continuum of points including the Cournot–Nash outcome and one or both Stackelberg outcomes. A simple theorem that uses agents’ standard one-period reaction functions and the one-period Cournot–Nash and Stackelberg equilibria delineates the equilibrium set. Applications include contribution, oligopoly, and rent-seeking games.
Method for rearing gnotobiotic thrips

An efficient method to produce gnotobiotic thrips is presented. The method was developed using western flower thrips and plant explants of chrysanthemum, poinsettia and jasmine in vitro. Larval development from egg hatch to pupation ranged from 8 to 22 days depending on the type of plant material they were reared on. Adults produced viable eggs and lived for about 34 days when reared on primary plant explants and callus with pigmentary cells. Callus without pigmentary cells was unsatisfactory for thrips development.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Association of Chronic Kidney Disease With Cerebral Microbleeds in Patients With Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage”

We thank Dr Tsuda for his interest in our recently published article. As he alluded to in his letter, nitrous oxide exerts a powerful influence on the regulation of glomerular filtration rate,1 and mounting evidence suggests that initial renal endothelial damage may lead to superoxide scavenging of nitric oxide, ultimately leading to diffuse severe endothelial dysfunction, including within the cerebrovascular …
Differential ionization measurements using positron impact

Abstract This paper describes techniques being used at the University of Missouri-Rolla for the purpose of obtaining differential ionization information for positron impact. Data are presented for single and multiple ionization of argon as a function of energy loss by positrons scattered in the forward direction. The impact energy is 750 eV. The data and their ratios are used to provide insights into which ionization channels are active. For large energy losses the double ionization ratios are found to be very similar to those obtained for photon impact energies where only outer shell ionization is possible
32P-Postlabeling analysis of lipophilic DNA adducts resulting from interaction with (±)-3-hydroxy-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-benzo[a]pyrene

Abstract Bay-region diol epoxides are considered the putative ultimate carcinogens of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. However, the results of studies on tumorigenesis and DNA binding of benzo[ a ]pyrene (BP) and its bay-region diol epoxide, (+)- trans -7,8-dihydroxy- anti -9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[ a ]pyrene [(+)- anti -BPDE] suggest that, in addition to anti -BPDE, other reactive metabolite(s) of BP may also be involved in BP-induced carcinogenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated that 3-hydroxy- trans -7,8-dihydroxy- anti -9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[ a ]pyrene ( anti -BPTE) is another highly reactive metabolite of BP. In order to identify syn - and anti -BPTE-derived DNA adducts and their base selectivity, we synthesized both compounds by two different methods and reacted in vitro with calf thymus DNA and individual nucleotides. The resultant adducts were analyzed by nuclease P1-enhanced 32 P-postlabeling. Anti -BPTE produced three major and several minor adducts with DNA; dAp and dGp were the preferred substrates, while dCp and dTp were the least reactive. In contrast, syn -BPTE produced two major adducts each with DNA and dGp; dAp generated only one adduct. Co-chromatography of anti -BPTE-derived DNA adducts with those of mononucleotide adducts revealed that the major adducts in DNA were guanine derived. Further, co-chromatographic results revealed that the anti -BPTE-DNA adducts were distinctly different from that of anti -BPDE-DNA adducts. These observations indicate that both syn - and anti -BPTE can react with DNA bases and these DNA adducts may also contribute to BP-induced carcinogenesis.
Participation of a Conversation Partner in the Word Searches of a Person With Aphasia

Conversation analysis was applied to answer the question of when and how a conversation partner participates in the word searches of a person with aphasia. Thirty-eight videotaped conversational se...
Effect of co-combustion of chicken litter and coal on emissions in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed combustor

Co-combustion of chicken litter (CL) with coal was performed in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed combustor to investigate the effect of CL combustion on pollutant emissions. The emissions of major gaseous pollutants including CO, SO2, H2S and NO and temperature distribution along the combustor were measured during the tests. Effects of CL fraction and secondary air on combustion characteristics were studied. The experimental results show that CL introduction increases CO emissions and reduces the levels of SO2. The ratio of H2S/SO2 increases with increasing fraction of CL. NO emissions either increase or decrease depending on the percentage of CL in the mixed fuels. The temperature in the freeboard region increases with increasing the fraction of CL while the reverse is true for the bed temperature.
Altered T2* relaxation time of the hippocampus in major depressive disorder: Implications of ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging

Previous studies with 1.5 T or 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have produced mixed results regarding the structural changes of the hippocampus in major depressive disorder (MDD). Subtle region-specific hippocampal tissue changes might be more sensitively detected by measuring the T2* relaxation time (T2*-RT) by ultra-high-field (UHF) MRI, as it provides much higher contrast and sensitivity and consequently greater resolution. We assessed the T2*-RTs of hippocampal sub-regions in 16 MDD patients (9 with recurrent MDD) and 16 control subjects using an UHF 7.0 T MRI system. T2*-RTs of CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4, and subiculum were calculated for both left and right hippocampus. MDD patients had significantly longer T2*-RTs in the right CA1 and subiculum than control subjects. Patients with recurrent MDD had significantly longer T2*-RTs in the right subiculum than those experiencing a first depressive episode, and longer T2*-RTs in the right CA1, CA3, and subiculum than control subjects. Values for T2*-RTs of the right CA3 were significantly correlated with illness duration. In conclusion, we report that T2*-RTs in the right subiculum and CA1 were increased in patients with MDD, especially in cases of recurrent MDD. These findings suggest that region-specific hippocampal damage may be occurring in recurrent depression.
Florence Nightingale and Holistic Philosophy

Florence Nightingale lived at a time when allopathy and homeopathy were competing for dominance in medical care. Nightingale's philosophy of health and healing was more similar to the holistic philosophy of homeopathy than to the mechanistic philosophy of allopathy. Why, then, did Nightingale align organized nursing with allopathic medicine? Perhaps Nightingale, always the pragmatist, understood that allopathy would gain the dominant position in medicine. Perhaps aligning nursing with allopathy was a way to ensure the survival and legitimacy of nursing as a profession. Modern nursing can reconnect with Nightingale's holistic philosophy by preparing graduates conversant with holistic philosophy and by encouraging research that focuses on how the natural healing process is facilitated.
A method for estimating number and mass of islets transplanted within a membrane device

Abstract Immunobarrier devices may prevent the immune destruction of pancreatic islets transplanted into diabetic recipients, but there are concerns about the survival of islets within such devices. In this manuscript we described a method for estimating islet mass and number within a membrane device. Five hundred syngeneic mouse islets were placed in a membrane device, which was then transplanted into the epididymal space of streptozotocin diabetic mouse. After 14 days the device was removed from the recipient, fixed, and embedded in paraffin. Sections were made and then stained with hematoxylin. From a total of 58 sections, 12 sample sections were selected for analysis by computerized planimetry to determine area of the device chamber and the islet area for each of these sections. By making certain assumptions, it was possible to estimate the total volume of the device chamber, the number of islets contained within the chamber, and the mass of islet tissue. Two weeks after implantation of the chamber, into which approximately 500 microencapsulated islets were loaded, the blood glucose level of the recipient fell to 73 mg/dL. The volume of the device chamber, the total volume of islets in the device, and the total islet number within the device were 1.78 μL, 0.57 pL, and 277 islets, respectively. The detailed methodology, assumptions, and calculations for this approach are described in this manuscript. This new method makes it possible to determine islet mass within a membrane device by analyzing a relatively small number of selected sections. This approach should make it possible to carry out comprehensive studies on the fate of transplanted islets contained in such immunobarrier membrane devices.
Distributed recovery with K -optimistic logging

Fault-tolerance techniques based on checkpointing and message logging have been increasingly used in real-world applications to reduce service down-time. Most industrial applications have chosen pessimistic logging because it allows fast and localized recovery. The price that they must pay, however, is the high failure-free overhead. In this paper, we introduce the concept of K-optimistic logging where K is the degree of optimism that can be used to fine-tune the trade-off between failure-free overhead and recovery efficiency. Traditional pessimistic logging and optimistic logging then become the two extremes in the entire spectrum spanned by K-optimistic logging. Our results generalize several previously known protocols.Our approach is to prove that only dependencies on those states that may be lost upon a failure need to be tracked on-line, and so transitive dependency tracking can be performed with a variable-size vector. The size of the vector piggy-backed on a message then indicates the number of processes whose failures may revoke the message, and K corresponds to the upper bound on the vector size. Furthermore, the parameter K is dynamically tunable in response to changing system characteristics.
Communication patterns of African American girls and boys from low-income, urban backgrounds

This study investigated gender effects on the conversational strategies used among 106 African American children (mean age = 7 years) from urban, low-income family backgrounds. Same- and mixed-gender pairs of children from the same grade level in an inner-city school were provided with toy bear puppets and asked to play together for 5 min. Conversations were coded using Leaper's Psychosocial Processes Coding Scheme, which classifies communication acts as either collaborative, controlling, informing, obliging, or withdrawing. Girls and boys were more similar than different. However, gender-related variations were found. Boys were more likely than girls to use controlling acts and domineering exchanges in same-gender pairs but not in mixed-gender pairs. Girls were more likely than boys to use a combination of collaborative and informing acts. For partner gender effects we found that controlling acts and domineering exchanges were less likely — whereas informing acts were more likely — to take place when children were matched with a girl than when they were matched with a boy. Findings replicate many of the gender effects on communication style reported in a prior study (Leaper, 1991) that used a similar procedure and coding strategy with a sample of middle-income children from mostly European American backgrounds.
Registration and integration of multiple depth images using signed distance function

Depth camera is a new technology that has potential to radically change the way humans record the world and interact with 3D virtual environments. With depth camera, one can have access to depth information up to 30 frames per second, which is much faster than previous 3D scanners. This speed enables new applications, in that objects are no longer required to be static for 3D sensing. There is, however, a trade-off between the speed and the quality of the results. Depth images acquired with current depth cameras are noisy and have low resolution, which poses a real obstacle to incorporating the new 3D information into computer vision techniques. To overcome these limitation, the speed of depth camera could be leveraged to combine data from multiple depth frames together. Thus, we need a good registration and integration method that is specifically designed for such low quality data. To achieve that goal, in this paper we propose a new method to register and integrate multiple depth frames over time onto a global model represented by an implicit moving least square surface.
Non-axisymmetric behaviour of Olduvai and Jaramillo polarity transitions recorded in north-central Pacific deep-sea sediments

The causes of the reversals of the Earth's magnetic field can be investigated by studying the palaeomagnetic record preserved in rocks. A proper documentation of reversal phenomena should yield valuable information about the generation of the field. Deep-sea sediments provide a globally and temporally distributed set of polarity transition records. Our studies2–4 of the Olduvai (1.88–1.72 Myr)1 and Jaramillo (0.94–0.88 Myr)1 subchrons using deep-sea sediments showed that the time-averaged behaviour of the geomagnetic field during these reversals proved to be reliably recorded, independent of the latitude and longitude of the sample site. Here we test some phenomenological transition models and present directional data, virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) and related directions in rotated declination, inclination (D′, I′) space5, using two records of the Olduvai reverse–normal–reverse (R–N–R) and two records of the Jaramillo R–N–R polarity transitions. These data are better explained by the flooding rather than the standing field model, but they also indicate a degree of asymmetry of the transitional field.
The Adenosine Analog Tubercidin Inhibits Glycolysis in Trypanosoma brucei as Revealed by an RNA Interference Library

We used an RNA interference (RNAi) library in a forward genetic selection to study the mechanism of toxicity of tubercidin (7-deazaadenosine) to procyclic Trypanosoma brucei. Following transfection of cells with an RNAi-based genomic library, we used 5 microm tubercidin to select a drug-resistant cell line. Surprisingly, we found in these resistant cells that the hexose transporters had been silenced. We subsequently found that silencing of hexokinase, a glycolytic enzyme, also yielded tubercidin-resistant parasites. These observations suggested that glycolysis could be a target of tubercidin action and that RNAi silencing of glycolytic enzymes was gradual enough to allow the parasites to adapt to alternative sources of energy. Indeed, adaptation of procyclic trypanosomes to a glucose-independent metabolism by reduction of glucose in the culture medium caused tubercidin resistance. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of glycolytic intermediates from parasites treated with tubercidin showed a dose-dependent increase in concentration of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate, a substrate of phosphoglycerate kinase. Furthermore, tubercidin triphosphate inhibited recombinant T. brucei phosphoglycerate kinase activity in vitro with an IC50 of 7.5 microm. We conclude that 5 microm tubercidin kills trypanosomes by targeting glycolysis, especially by inhibition of phosphoglycerate kinase.
Climate Disorders and Environmental Security

Simon Dalby (2009), Security and Environmental Change, Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 197 pages. ISBN 9780745642918. R. Matthew, J. Barnett, B. McDonald, and K. O'Brien (eds.) (2010), Global Environm...
Electron mobility engineering in semiconductor heterostructures

Abstract It is well known that at low temperatures the acoustic-phonon limited mobility of a two-dimensional electron gas in GaAs heterostructures is determined predominantly by piezoelectric scattering. We suggest a way of significantly enhancing of the acoustic-phonon limited mobility by reducing piezoelectric scattering via inserting thin metal layers at finite distances from the electron channel. As an example, for a GaAs quantum well of 100 A width placed between two metal layers and separated from them by 50 A , the mobility at T=0.2 K increases by about 10 times. Moreover, the mobility increases several times when only one metal layer or highly doped semiconductor is placed near a narrow well.
A Comparison of Diagonal Weighted Least Squares Robust Estimation Techniques for Ordinal Data

This study compared diagonal weighted least squares robust estimation techniques available in 2 popular statistical programs: diagonal weighted least squares (DWLS; LISREL version 8.80) and weighted least squares–mean (WLSM) and weighted least squares—mean and variance adjusted (WLSMV; Mplus version 6.11). A 20-item confirmatory factor analysis was estimated using item-level ordered categorical data. Three different nonnormality conditions were applied to 2- to 7-category data with sample sizes of 200, 400, and 800. Convergence problems were seen with nonnormal data when DWLS was used with few categories. Both DWLS and WLSMV produced accurate parameter estimates; however, bias in standard errors of parameter estimates was extreme for select conditions when nonnormal data were present. The robust estimators generally reported acceptable model–data fit, unless few categories were used with nonnormal data at smaller sample sizes; WLSMV yielded better fit than WLSM for most indices.
Separation of Isomeric Xylenes Using Cyclodextrin-Modified Ceramic Membranes

Cyclodextrin (CD)-modified ceramic membranes for the separation of xylene mixtures were investigated. CDs were directly immobilized to the surface of TiO2/Al2O3 ceramic nanofiltration membranes, and a cross-linking agent was used to obtain further stabilization of the CD layer. Pervaporation tests showed that the order of permeation from ternary xylene mixtures was m-xylene > o-xylene > p-xylene. In p-xylene/m-xylene binary mixtures, the separation was a strong function of the feed concentration ratio. The selectivity of p-xylene over m-xylene changed from 1.53 at 4 vol % to 0.72 at 32 vol % of p-xylene in the feed. To describe these observations, a mathematical model was derived based on Stefan−Maxwell theory assuming a surface-diffusion mechanism. Model parameters including sorption isotherms were obtained from experiments. The Stefan−Maxwell diffusion coefficients are obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, this model predicted the experimental observations well and revealed that the sel...
Long-term survival in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava thrombectomy: single-center experience.

Abstract Background Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with a tumor thrombus extension into the inferior vena cava (IVC) demands aggressive surgical management. Objective To evaluate the long-term survival in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy. Design, setting, and participants We performed a retrospective analysis of 87 patients undergoing surgery between 1997 and 2008. The patients were grouped according to the extent of tumor thrombus, with level I involving the IVC at the level of the renal vein, level II being infrahepatic IVC, level III being intrahepatic IVC, and level IV being suprahepatic IVC or right atrium. Relevant clinical and pathologic data were analyzed. Measurements Disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were studied. Results and limitations The median follow-up was 22 mo, and 19, 14, 40, and 14 patients had level I, II, III, and IV IVC thrombus, respectively. Among patients with M0 disease, 22 developed metastases. The 5-yr DFS was 64% for all levels and 74%, 69.5%, 59.5%, and 58% for levels I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Of the level I group, 16% of patients died of disease compared to 57% of the level IV group. The 5-yr DSS for all levels was 46% and 71%, 48%, 40%, and 35% for levels I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Patients with level IV thrombus had a significantly lower 5-yr DSS compared to level I ( p =0.03). However, when analyzed in two groups—supradiaphragmatic and infradiaphragmatic—there was no significant difference in DSS ( P =0.14). On univariate analysis, metastasis at presentation, non–clear-cell histology, lymph node metastases, and higher nuclear grade were statistically significant prognostic factors influencing DSS. Only higher nuclear grade ( p =0.03), metastasis at presentation ( p p =0.03) were independent prognostic factors on multivariate analysis. Conclusions Radical nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy offer reasonable long-term survival. The level of tumor thrombus is not an independent prognostic factor. Distant metastasis at presentation, higher nuclear grade, and non–clear-clear cell histology are significant prognostic factors influencing DSS.
Organ-specific therapy in critical illness: Interfacing molecular mechanisms with physiological interventions

Sepsis and SIRS is the outward manifestation of a generalized uncontrolled inflammatory response, which, if sustained, induces widespread endothelial damage and MODS. Immunomodulating therapies, at present, have proven ineffective in reducing morbidity and mortality, presumably because of the heterogeneous nature of sepsis and septic shock and the reciprocating and redundant nature of this inflammatory cascade. Organ-specific therapies can support life but impair both organ-specific function and remote organ function. Novel therapies aimed at minimizing further organ dysfunction may improve outcome in a cost-effective fashion by preventing both further primary organ dysfunction or remote organ dysfunction secondary to the subsequent activation of the inflammatory response.
Influence of testosterone propionate during storage on livability and metabolism of bovine spermatozoa

Abstract Bovine spermatozoa, stored in the presence of 25, 50, 100 or 150 μg testosterone propionate/ml of extender for either 4 hours at 5° C or 2 weeks at −196° C, elicited a decreased O 2 uptake. The O 2 uptake decreased with each increase in the level of testosterone added to the media. Part of this decrease in O 2 uptake particularly at higher concentrations of the testosterone was due to a decrease in the number of live spermatozoa. There was also an increase in the release of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase enzyme from the spermatozoa in the testosterone containing diluents. The depressed respiration and the higher accumulation of Kreb's cycle intermediates are suggestive that testosterone at 25 μg/ml extender may be beneficial for storage of spermatozoa at −196° C.
Low serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in obese subjects with normal serum triglycerides: the role of insulin resistance and inflammatory cytokines

Background: The cause of obesity-related low HDLc in the absence of hypertriglyceridemia is not known. Subjects & methods: A total of 32 subjects with a body mass index (BMI)(kg/m2) greater than 30 and normal serum triglycerides (<150 mg/dl) were identified. Results: People with low HDLc (n = 16) compared to those with normal HDLc (n = 16) had higher BMI (37.53 ± 4.54 vs. 33.99 ± 3.65 kg/m2, p < 0.021), higher body fat weight (42.59 ± 9.51 vs. 34.76 ± 8.7 kg, p < 0.023), and higher insulin resistance index (3.75 ± 2.51 vs. 1.95 ± 1.10, p < 0.013). Seven subjects with low HDLc and none of those with normal HDLc, had elevated serum tumor necrosis factor alpha and/or interleukin-6 (p < 0.010). Conclusions: Low HDLc levels can occur in obesity independently of elevated serum triglycerides and may be secondary to elevated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines.
Development of Bicycle and Pedestrian Detection and Classification Algorithm for Active-Infrared Overhead Vehicle Imaging Sensors

Existing algorithms used with active-infrared overhead vehicle-imaging sensors consider vehicle size and speed attributes as basic parameters to detect and classify 11 categories of motorized vehicles. These algorithms could not detect and classify bicycles and pedestrians. This research focused on developing and evaluating algorithms for active-infrared overhead vehicle-imaging sensor technology to detect and classify nonmotorized users. Development of the theory and algorithm used to automate the simultaneous detection and classification of bicycles and pedestrians along with the field investigations to evaluate its effectiveness are described. The new algorithm used the concept of message sequencing to incorporate existing active-infrared technology theory. Bicycles and pedestrians intersected the infrared scan patterns in different sequences that, along with the infrared images, provided unique detection and classification identification. The algorithm was integrated within the existing active-infrared technology, and a field evaluation was conducted on bicycle and pedestrian trails. The algorithm created an intelligent technology to detect and classify bicycles and pedestrians. Nearly 100% of bicycles and pedestrians were detected, and about 92% of them were successfully classified. Automated data collection technology can be useful in obtaining more comprehensive travel data and in forecasting demand for design and policy making related to nonmotorized transportation.
Pilates, Mindfulness and Somatic Education.

The Pilates Method is a form of somatic education with the potential to cultivate mindfulness – a mental quality associated with overall well-being. However, controlled studies are needed to determine whether changes in mindfulness are specific to the Pilates Method or also result from other forms of exercise. This quasi-experimental study compared Pilates Method mat classes and recreational exercise classes on measures of mindfulness and well-being at the beginning, middle and end of a 15 week semester. Total mindfulness scores increased overall for the Pilates Method group but not for the exercise control group, and these increases were directly related to end of semester ratings of self-regulatory self-efficacy, perceived stress and mood. Findings suggest that the Pilates Method specifically enhances mindfulness, and these increases are associated with other measures of wellness. The changes in mindfulness identified in this study support the role of the Pilates Method in the mental well-being of its practitioners and its potential to support dancers’ overall well-being.
Progressive Transverse Cracking of Crossply Composite Laminates

A simplified shear lag analysis using a progressive damage scheme is pro posed for crossply composite laminates under uniaxial tensile loading. Closed form solu tions for stress distributions, tran...
Social networking in health care: Surgeons and their patients

iPods, iPads, iTunes, I-this, and I-that. Sometimes, a mouthful of all these ‘‘Is’’ makes me want to say that I-can’t-keep-up. In our world of technology, it is difficult to know where to turn next given all the changes. Once upon a time, someone had to explain to me what ‘‘www’’ meant. Others then began to ask whether I had an e-mail account and whether I actually read the mail delivered to it. I must have at least 3 e-mail accounts by now. I find people asking me about blogs, Myspace, and Facebook. Should I feel inadequate if I am not ready for Facebook yet? How does the Wizard of Oz expression go? ‘‘Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore.’’ It seems the social networks just keep growing, too. Now, I visit YouTube, Twitter, Linkedln, and SharePoint. We also have major universities creating the ‘‘Open University’’ project and podcasts for education. What are all these new derivatives of the e-world? Who is creating all of this? Have you ever seen two collegiates, side by side, each on his or her mobile phone, thumbs pecking away, texting one another? By now, if my grandfather were alive watching this exchange, he would wonder whether we had failed as parents. Smartphones and computer terminals everywhere---don’t people just talk to one another? Perhaps the confusion about social networks might be how blacksmiths must have felt when Henry Ford pulled up in a new auto without a horse pulling the load. The blacksmiths must have laughed at Henry when they considered the need for gasoline or autos stuck in the mud on a rainy day. We know how that story ended.
Absolute Light Scattering Calibration of the Stopped-Flow Spectrophotometer with Application to the Kinetics of Formation of Monodispersed Colloidal Hematite

A calibration method based on absolute intensities of scattered light from colloidal silica was developed to standardize the stopped-flow temperature jump spectrophotometer (SFTJ). The need for such calibration was exemplified by the study of the temperature effect on the Rayleigh ratio changes during the formation of solid iron (hydrous) oxides.
Time variations of the distant magnetotail

The likely dimensions of an extended earth magnetotail are investigated by considering various published polar cap and magnetotail observations in light of recent knowledge about magnetosphere behavior under different interplanetary magnetic field conditions. It is argued that the magnetotail is highly time dependent. During southward field conditions the tail probably attains its maximum radius but is subject to 'breaking off' via substorm associated reconnection events which temporarily deplete the flux and reduce the radius. During northward interplanetary conditions more field lines are apt to close near the earth leaving considerably less flux to form any extended tail. Using estimates for both the amount of open polar cap flux and the tail flux at 60 earth radii, it is argued that at 200 earth radii either the tail cross section is elongated in the equatorial plane or the average radius is not more than 25 earth radii.
Pseudomonas syringae genes induced during colonization of leaf surfaces.

Summary The foliar pathogen and ice nucleator, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a, demonstrates a high level of epiphytic fitness on plants. Using a promoter-trapping strategy termed habitat-inducible rescue of survival (HIRS), we identified genes of this organism that are induced during colonization of healthy bean leaf surfaces. These plant-inducible genes (pigs) encode diverse cellular functions including virulence, transcription regulation, transport, nutrient acquisition and other known and unknown loci, some of which may result in antisense transcripts to annotated P. syringae genes. Prominent among the pigs was ssuE, a gene in the sulfate-starvation regulon, indicating that sulfate is not abundant on leaf surfaces. inaZ reporter gene fusion assays of the plant-inducible loci revealed up to 300-fold higher levels of pig transcriptional activity on plant leaves compared with minimal medium. However, the maximum levels of pig transcriptional activity were typically too weak to be measured using a gfp reporter gene. One exception was orf6 in the hrp/hrc pathogenicity island which was highly induced in epiphytic P. syringae cells. Four pigs were disrupted by insertional mutagenesis. While growth of the ssuE mutant was impaired under certain conditions in laboratory medium, the epiphytic and virulence properties of the mutants on bean plants were identical to wild-type P. syringae. Our results demonstrate the utility of HIRS to identify genes expressed on leaves and provide new insight into the leaf surface environment.
Family Inclusion in Diabetes Education A Nationwide Survey of Diabetes Educators

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions about family inclusion and support in diabetes self-management education.MethodsSurveys were mailed to certified diabetes educators (CDEs) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a return of 225 surveys. Descriptive and inferential statistics (eg, t test, analysis of variance, correlation, and chi-square) were used as appropriate.ResultsLevels of importance placed on family involvement in diabetes education were significantly related to the emphasis placed on family during CDEs’ formal or preprofessional education. CDEs’ formal exposure to family theory influenced perceptions of their knowledge about family and the frequency that family support was emphasized in self-management activities but was unrelated to perceptions of their skillfulness in educating family members. Diabetes educators’ personal values of family support were significantly related to how frequently family members were asked to participate in formal diabetes edu...
Orphan Drug Development Update

This paper provides an update on orphan product development since the passage of the Orphan Drug Act in 1983. The number of drugs approved and marketed to treat rare diseases and disorders has increased substantially since passage of the act, despite their limited commercial value. Implementation of this legislation continues to evolve to fit changing trends, but by all measures the Orphan Drug Act has been an immense success.
Cache coherence support for non-shared bus architecture on heterogeneous MPSoCs

We propose two novel integration techniques - bypass and bookkeeping - in the memory controller to address the cache coherence compatibility issue of a non-shared bus heterogeneous MPSoC. The bypass approach is an inexpensive and efficient solution for computation-bound applications while the bookkeeping approach eliminating unnecessary forwarding traffic offers an alternative for bandwidth-limited applications. Our RTOS kernel simulations show up to 6.65/spl times/ speedup over the conventional software solution.
On-line measurement and processing of partial discharge activities using visual programming tools

In this paper, an experimental model for monitoring, processing and recording partial discharge (PD) activities is presented. The model consists of a real-time data acquisition system incorporated with a graphical user interface (GUI) tool operating under Windows. The data acquisition system has 8 analog channels with programmable gain amplifier. The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is a 12 bit successive approximation converter with a 10 /spl mu/s conversion time. The setup has an active signal conditioning circuit for amplification and isolation to eliminate noise signals from PD pulses. In addition to monitoring the characteristics of partial discharge pulses, the auxiliary channels may be utilized to sense other parameters such as temperature rise, humidity, pressure, etc. These parameters are essential for locating partial discharges in various insulation systems.
Developmental outcomes and cognitive functioning in infant and child heart transplant recipients.

Abstract Pediatric heart transplantation has become a mainstay in the treatment of end-stage heart disease in infants and children. There is, however, sparse information on post-transplant developmental and cognitive functioning. At Loma Linda University Children's Hospital 223 infants have undergone heart transplantation surgery with a survival rate of 73% ( n =165). This article reports on four areas of investigation of this cohort of infants. Infant development: Two studies were done utilizing the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (mean 100, S.D.±15). The first study ( n =48) showed mean values within the normal range [Mental Development Index (MDI) 87; Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) 90]. The second study ( n =23) showed developmental scores within normal limits in 4–8 month olds with a tendency for decline in development at 12–24 months (MDI 83, PDI 77). Child development: Ninty-one infant recipients were greater than 5 years old. Forty-five children were excluded because of long distances from the hospital, second transplantation, abnormal karyotype, primary language non-English, or invalid testing. The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised testing of 5–6-year-olds ( n =23) showed a Full Scale IQ of 74, Performance IQ of 76, and Verbal IQ of 77. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–III testing of 7–10-year-olds ( n =23) showed a Full Scale IQ of 86, Performance IQ of 89, and Verbal IQ of 86. The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (mean 100, S.D.±15) yielded a Total Composite of 91, Mathematics Composite of 86, Language Composite of 98, and a Reading Composite of 94. Visual spatial skills: Visual motor integration (mean 100, S.D.±15) was evaluated in 5–10-year-olds with a mean of 87; however, 52% of the children had scores below 1 S.D. Subtests from the Wechsler scales that assess visual motor and visual spatial skills indicated significant deficits. Behavior: Younger children ( n =33) demonstrated behaviors indicative of social isolation. Older children ( n =36) showed behavior that was within the normal limits, but depression was noted in a significant number of them. Conclusions : Infant heart transplant recipients demonstrate IQ and achievement levels within the normal range, but there is a significant amount of variability with more children than would be expected scoring in the lower ranges. Children with heart transplantation are at risk for visual spatial skill deficits. Young children are at risk for social isolation while symptoms of depression are noted in older children.
The Biogenesis of Chylomicrons

The absorption of dietary fat is of increasing concern given the rise of obesity not only in the United States but throughout the developed world. This review explores what happens to dietary fat within the enterocyte. Absorbed fatty acids and monoacylglycerols are required to be bound to intracellular proteins and/or to be rapidly converted to triacylglycerols to prevent cellular membrane disruption. The triacylglycerol produced at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is either incorporated into prechylomicrons within the ER lumen or shunted to triacylglycerol storage pools. The prechylomicrons exit the ER in a specialized transport vesicle in the rate-limiting step in the intracellular transit of triacylglycerol across the enterocyte. The prechylomicrons are further processed in the Golgi and are transported to the basolateral membrane via a separate vesicular system for exocytosis into the intestinal lamina propria. Fatty acids and monoacylglycerols entering the enterocyte via the basolateral membrane are also incorporated into triacylglycerol, but the basolaterally entering lipid is much more likely to enter the triacylglycerol storage pool than the lipid entering via the apical membrane.
Attitudes and practices of registered nurses toward women who have experienced abuse/domestic violence.

Objective: To compare the education, attitudes, and practices related to domestic violence of perinatal nurses from three types of practice sites. Design: A descriptive study of responses to a questionnaire administered to a convenience sample and through a mailing. Setting: Education conferences and responses to a mailing. Participants: Two hundred seventy-five nurses in perinatal practice (87 public health, 71 hospital, 117 private office). Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes were attitudes and beliefs about domestic violence and nursing behavior when domestic violence was identified. The effects of education about domestic violence on practice and the effect of a personal/family history of domestic violence on practice were examined. Results: Some differences were found in the attitudes and beliefs of nurses from different practice sites, but more differences were found in their behaviors. Only 54% of the total sample reported having education about domestic violence, received in formal or continuing education programs. Public health nurses were the most likely to have such education. Education affected both attitudes and behavior. In the total sample, 31% of nurses reported abuse of themselves or family members. Conclusions: Nursing care for women who have experienced domestic violence includes assessment and appropriate counseling. Many nurses in this study lacked education about domestic violence. The provision of education about abuse and domestic violence is a first step toward a change in nursing practice. JOGNN, 27 , 175-182; 1998.
Abstract T P312: The Addition of the Post Stroke Checklist to Standard Outcome Measures Provides Unique Information Relevant to Stroke Recovery

Background: The Post Stroke Checklist (PSC) is an easily administered, recently developed clinical tool to identify unmet needs in stroke patients. The relative value of the PSC compared to other outcome measures has yet to be determined. Method: We evaluated 126 ischemic stroke patients (median age 68, range 31-97) 30 days following discharge in the outpatient clinic of our Comprehensive Stroke Center. Items were originally scored by a nurse and reviewed with a stroke physician. The PSC was administered to all patients as well as the Barthel Index (BI) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We stratified each scale according to severity and identified actionable PSC items in each severity group. Using Fisher’s Exact Test we searched for correlation between the total number of PSC items scored positively and the total score of other outcome measures. We also looked for correlations between individual PSC items and other outcome scores. Results: The median (range) BI was 100 (10-100) and mRS was 1 (0-4). We stratified each outcome measure into 2 groups: BI-S (more severe) 0-89 (n=23) and BI-L (less severe) 90-100 (n=103); mRS-S (more severe) 3-5 (n=23) and mRS-L (less severe) 0-2 (n=103). 79 patients responded positively to one or more items in the PSC. There was no difference in total positive scores for any of the stratified groups, mRS (p=0.69) and BI (p=0.28). The frequency of positive responses for individual patients ranged from 1 to 6. The most common items identified are listed in the table below. No significant differences were noted. Conclusion: The PSC is simple to administer and was well accepted by clinicians and patients. Depression/Anxiety, Cognitive Dysfunction, Instrumental ADL’s, and New Onset Pain are not included in the BI and mRS but are easily identified using the PSC. Our results suggest that the PSC provides important information about these unmet needs in stroke patients independent of stroke severity.
Is There a Role for Indirect Calorimetry in Maximizing Patient Outcome from Nutritional Alimentation in the Long-Term Nursing Care Setting?

Background: Patients in a long-term nursing care center (NCC) are at risk for the complications of malnutrition because of altered mental status and reduced mobility. Objective: This prospective study sought to determine the need for accurately measuring energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry (IC) and providing sufficient nutrition support, by evaluating the effect of energy balance on nutrition-related complications in the NCC. Design: Patients residing in one NCC were included in this study if there was evidence of hypoalbuminemia, pressure sores, weight loss, actual/ideal body weight less than 85% or more than 150%, or the need for enteral tube feeding or total parenteral nutrition (TPN). After 4 weeks of initial monitoring, patients were evaluated weekly by IC for 8 weeks. Caloric requirements were defined by the measured resting energy expenditure with 10% to 15% added for an activity factor. Monitors included: daily temperature and stool frequency; weekly calorie count, Norton scale (NS), weight, pressure sore number/stage, and serum prealbumin level; and monthly quality of life measure by Minimum Data Set. Results: Of 110 patients screened, 41 met study criteria but 17 were excluded for reasons of agitation, refusal to participate, discharge from the NCC, or death. Of the 24 patients completing the study, 20.8% were male with a mean age of 77.1 years (range 29 to 104 years) and could be grouped on the basis of energy balance. Group 1 (n = 13) had positive cumulative energy balance for the 8 weeks of the study, 30.8% lost weight, 53.8% showed a slight increase in their risk for pressure sores (as evidenced by decreases in NS score) but only 15.4% developed pressure sores. Group 2 (n = 11) had negative cumulative energy balance for the 8 weeks of the study, 63.6% lost weight (odds ratio [OR] = 0.25; 95%
Violence Against Urban African American Girls Challenges for Feminist Advocacy

The pioneering efforts of second wave feminists problematized the issue of violence against women. In the intervening decades, a diverse group of stakeholders have claimed the problem as their own. Here I discuss the challenges that result from the evolution of academic, policy, and governmental expertise on violence against women, including the tendency to narrowly frame this problem through the lenses of public health and criminal justice, thus decoupling it from broader issues of equity and justice. Drawing from my research on violence against African American girls in distressed urban neighborhoods, I argue for feminist advocacy as an overarching goal in the study of gendered violence. This orientation holds much promise for (a) recognizing the expertise of women in identifying and articulating their struggles, challenges, and life worlds; (b) grounding our research in structural, institutional, and situationally relevant contexts; and (c) infusing our work with a commitment to social justice.