cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teachers Techniques in the Nursery School Luncheon Period

The specific purpose of this study was to observe, describe, and analyze the various techniques used by teachers during the nurs ery school luncheon period and to evaluate them in terms of their effect upon the chil dren, in order to obtain information that might have practical implications for child guidance in the nursery school. The data ob tained and studied include: (i) records of the activities of the teacher during the entire mealtime, (2) records of the children's be havior problems presented during this time, and (3) records of the techniques of the teacher in guiding the children with these problems.
Polytranscripts of Sendai virus do not contain intervening polyadenylate sequences.

Abstract Discrete high-molecular-weight RNA species with the properties of polytranscripts were observed in poly(A)-rich RNA extracted from Sendai virus-infected cells. These RNA species were virus specific, being synthesized in the presence of actinomycin D, but not seen in uninfected cells. They were not genome or antigenome fragments, since they were not encapsidated, as shown by their destruction when ribonuclease was added to cell homogenates and by their absence from the RNA fractions that did not bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose. Two lines of evidence indicated that the gene-specific regions of these polytranscripts were not linked by poly(A) sequences, but were faithful copies of virus genomic RNA sequences at gene boundaries. First, a small cDNA clone obtained by reverse transcription of poly(A)-rich RNA species from infected cells contained 90 bases from the 5' terminus of the gene for the P protein and about 600 bases from the Wend of the downstream gene, which specifies the M protein, the entire cloned sequence being an accurate complement of the genomic RNA. Second, dideoxynucleotide sequencing of poly(A)-rich RNA species primed by virus gene-specific oligodeoxynucleotides revealed read-through products of transcription containing no detectable poly(A). If Sendai virus polytranscripts are intermediates in the production of monocistronic viral mRNAs by a cleavage process, and poly(A) sequences do not link the mRNAs, polyadenylation would have to follow the cleavage step; it seems more likely that these polytranscripts are aberrant transcription products generated by occasional termination failure in a stop-start mechanism of transcription.
Mass drug administration for trachoma: how long is not long enough?

Background Blinding trachoma is targeted for elimination by 2020 using the SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvements). Annual mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin is a cornerstone of this strategy. If baseline prevalence of clinical signs of trachomatous inflammation – follicular among 1-9 year-olds (TF1-9) is ≥10% but <30%, the World Health Organization guidelines are for at least 3 annual MDAs; if ≥30%, 5. We assessed the likelihood of achieving the global elimination target of TF1-9 <5% at 3 and 5 year evaluations using program reports.
Effect of chronic total coronary occlusion on treatment strategy.

In a registry analysis of 8,004 consecutive patients presenting for diagnostic catheterization at a single institution from 1990 to 2000, chronic total occlusion (CTO) was found in 52% of patients with significant (≥70% diameter stenosis) coronary artery disease. Peripheral vascular disease was the strongest clinical predictor of the presence of a CTO. In a multivariate analysis, CTO was the strongest predictor against the selection of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as a treatment strategy, indicating that efforts to improve the success rate of PCI in CTO may have a significant impact on management of coronary disease.
Effects of water temperature and wind on year‐class success of Tanner crabs in Bristol Bay, Alaska

We investigated five a priori hypotheses on factors affecting year-class success of commercially exploited Tanner crabs, Chionoecetes bairdi, in Bristol Bay, Alaska, through correlation analysis and multiple regression modelling. Estimates of recruitment from Zheng et al.’s (1998; Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 125:97–105) length-based analysis of assessment survey and commercial catch data were used to index year-class strength. This work extends results of an earlier study (Rosenkranz et al., 1998; Alaska Fish. Res. Bull. 5:18–24), which reported positive correlations between Tanner crab year-class size and north-east (NE) winds during the spring larval period, by considering the effects of nondirectional wind speed, bottom and surface water temperature, and abundance of the potential predators sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus). No relationships were found between year-class size and mean wind speed or predator abundance, but positive correlations were found with bottom temperatures during gonadal development and egg incubation. Linear regression models with the independent variables NE wind and bottom temperature accounted for about half the variability in the year-class strength index (r2=0.50 for males, r2=0.48 for females). Anomalously cold bottom temperatures may adversely affect the Tanner crab reproductive cycle, and NE winds may promote coastal upwelling while advecting larvae to regions of fine sediments favourable for survival upon settling. The role of Bering Sea oceanography on decadal-scale variability in Tanner crab population dynamics could not be resolved with the relatively short (∼ two decades) time series of stock assessments.
Bifurcation geometry of E6

Abstract Bifurcations of the singularity E 6 :ƒ=x 3 +y 4 are considered. The principal aim is to give a visual description of the geometry of the universal unfolding F(x,y;a,b,c,d,e)=x 3 +y 4 −ax−by−cxy−dy 2 −exy 2 by means of a tableau of sections. Two such tableaus are described: one has two-dimensional sections over a three-dimensional base while the other has three-dimensional sections over a two-dimensional base.
Multifilter Method for Determining Relative Spectral Sensitivity Functions of Photoelectric Detectors

Experimental difficulties encountered in the determination of spectral sensitivity functions (Sλ) of photoelectric detectors make it desirable to have independent checks on a measured Sλ. A multifilter method is described which allows not only a check on a given Sλ, but also makes it possible to determine Sλ directly and independently of any previous measurements. The filters employed in the method have to satisfy the condition that their spectral transmittance functions form a set of linearly independent functions over the spectral range considered. The practical importance of the method and ways of checking its precision are discussed, using a numerical example which involves 14 linearly independent filters forming a 14×14 matrix of spectral transmittances for the spectral range 390 to 670 mμ.
The acquisition of purines by trypanosomatids

Parasites of the family Trypanosomatidae have an absolute requirement for purines, yet lack the intracellular machinery to synthesize their own purine ring de novo. As a result, the enzymes devoted to the transport and metabolism of purines are extremely important to the parasite. Here, Claudia Cohn and Michael Gottlieb emphasize the value of understanding purine salvage for the development of trypanocidal drugs, and discuss the putative transporters devoted to purine uptake.
η2-Nitrosyl linkage isomers in the photochemistry of Mo(CO)(NO)(DPPE)(S2CNEt2) and Mo(CO)3(NO)(DPPE)

Abstract Photolysis of Mo(CO)(NO)(DPPE)(S2CNEt2) and [Mo(CO)3(NO)(DPPE)]PF6 in frozen matrices results in the isomerization of a linear nitrosyl ligand to its side-on, η2-NO isomer. These results are discussed in the context of recent studies by Kunkely and Vogler [H. Kunkely, A. Vogler, Inorg. Chem. Commun. 7 (2004) 767–769] describing nitrosyl loss during solution photolysis of an analogous dimethyldithiocarbamate derivative.
Evaluation of lidocaine as an analgesic when added to hypertonic saline for sclerotherapy

Abstract Purpose: The efficacy of sclerosing agents for the treatment of telangiectasias and reticular veins is well established. The injection of these agents is often associated with pain, and it is not uncommon for sclerotherapists to include lidocaine with the sclerosants in an attempt to reduce the pain associated with treatment. However, there are concerns that this may reduce the overall efficacy of the treatment because of dilution of the sclerosant. Patient comfort and overall outcome associated with treatment using HS with lidocaine (LIDO) versus that using HS alone was compared. Methods: Forty-two patients were prospectively entered into the study and randomized blindly to sclerotherapy with 23.4% HS or 19% LIDO. Study subjects and treating physicians were blinded to the injection solution used. Injection sites were chosen for veins ranging in size from 0.1 to 3 mm. Photographs of the area to be treated were taken, and the patients rated their pain. They were then observed at regular intervals for four months, and clinical data was collected. Thirty-five subjects completed the full follow-up period, and photographs of the injected area were taken again. Three investigators blinded to the treatment assignment then evaluated the photographs and scored the treatment efficacy according to a standardized system. Results: In the HS group, 61.9% (13 of 21) patients rated their pain as none or mild, whereas 90.5% (19 of 21) of patients in the LIDO group had no or mild discomfort. This difference is significant, with a P value of .034. There was no difference in the overall efficacy of treatment between the two groups. The groups had similar rates of vein thrombosis and skin necrosis. Conclusion: Although lidocaine is often used with sclerosing agents, there are no previous reports in the literature to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing the pain experienced by the patient. In this study, patients receiving LIDO experienced significantly less discomfort at the time of injection than patients who received HS alone. There were no differences in the effectiveness of treatment or in the incidence of complications between the two groups. (J Vasc Surg 1999;29:479-83.)
Congenital choledochal cyst: Reconstruction of the normal anatomy

Abstract A choledochal cyst was excised and the biliary tree reconstructed by an anastomosis between the common hepatic duct and the distal remnant of the common bile duct. When technically feasible this procedure seems preferable to other methods of surgical management.
Design and experimental technology for 0.1-&#181;m gate-length low-temperature operation FET's

The first device performance results are presented from experiments designed to assess FET technology feasibility in the 0.1-µm gate-length regime. Low-temperature device design considerations for these dimensions lead to a 0.15-V threshold and 0.6-V power supply, with a forward-biased substrate. Self-aligned and almost fully scaled devices and simple circuits were fabricated by direct-write electron-beam lithography at all levels, with gate lengths down to 0.07 µm. Measured device characteristics yielded over 750-mS/mm transconductance, which is the highest value obtained to date in Si FET's.
Maurice William: dentist and political thinker.

A little-known book titled The Social Interpretation of History had considerable impact on the political philosophy of Sun Yat-sen, revolutionary leader in 20th century China. The author of the book, Maurice William, practiced dentistry in New York.
Hypothermia From Realistic Fluid Resuscitation in a Model of Hemorrhagic Shock

Abstract Study objective : To correlate changes in core body temperature with changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cardiac output (CO) and with the administration of room-temperature intravenous fluids in a clinically relevant large-animal model of uncontrolled hemorrhage. Methods : Ten swine were subjected to uncontrolled hemorrhage through a flow-monitored shunt placed between the femoral artery and the peritoneal cavity. Animals were randomly assigned to a treatment or a control group. The control group (n=5) received no intravenous fluids. The treatment group (n=5) received 80 mL/kg (3:1 crystalloid/blood loss) ambient-temperature lactated Ringer's solution over a 10-minute resuscitation phase initiated 10 minutes after injury. CO and core body temperature, measured with the use of a pulmonary artery catheter, and MAP were the primary outcomes. We analyzed differences between groups with the use of repeated-measures ANOVA. Change of temperature was analyzed against the change in CO, and against fluid infusion for each interval, by means of regression analysis. Results : The unresuscitated control animals had no change in core temperature despite profound hemorrhagic shock and hypo-tension. The animals treated with fluids had a mean 2.6° C decrease in core temperature during fluid resuscitation (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8 to 3.5). A 1.5° C decrease in core temperature (95% CI, .1 to 2.0) persisted at the end of 60 minutes (40 minutes after fluid resuscitation was discontinued). Core temperatures in control animals were 2.8° C lower than those in treated animals after fluid resuscitation (95% CI, .8 to 4.8). Decreases in core temperature correlated with fluid infusion (β= –35.2 mL/kg·° C, R 2 =.75) and increases in CO (β= –1.46 L/min·° C, R 2 =.69). Conclusion : Ambient-temperature crystalloid resuscitation in a clinically relevant large-animal model of hemorrhagic shock causes small decreases in core body temperature. Resuscitation rather than shock is the main cause of decreased body temperature in this model. [Silbergleit R, Satz W, Lee DC, McNamara RM: Hypothermia from realistic fluid resuscitation in a model of hemorrhagic shock. Ann Emerg Med March 1998;31:339-343.]
Making Successful Security Decisions: A Qualitative Evaluation

How do IT security managers make decisions in the absence of empirical data, and how do they know these decisions are successful? Some security managers seem more successful at making decisions than others. Are they guessing, or are they using some tacit knowledge? To address these questions, a study employed open-ended interviews with highly regarded, experienced security practitioners.
Nanomedicine on the move

The Second Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Nanomedicine (AANM) met in Washington DC, USA, at the National Academy of Sciences on September 9–10, 2006. The program included two Nobel Prize Laureate Lectures and a Keynote Lecture with 23 symposia and 120 invited speakers from more than ten countries. Nanomedicine is an emerging subdiscipline of nanoscience with the goal of developing tools for highly specific medical intervention at the nanoscale, for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and traumatic injury and to improve human health. The diversity of the field was reflected by the speakers and attendees, who included engineers, chemists, mathematicians, cell and molecular biologists and physicians, as well as representatives of government, legal groups and policymakers.
Waves of switching in thyristor-like structures

DiAerential equations which describe a propagation of switching waves in thyristor-like structures are derived. These waves propagate if a gate current, Jg, diAers from a certain value, Jg0(j), corresponding to neutral (translationally invariant) equilibrium state for a given current density j in the ON-region. The derivation is based on the initial equation of theory of semiconductor devices. Our consideration is valid only for bases where widths are much less than the width of a transition layer between the ON- and the OFF-regions. For the first time, an explicit analytical formula for the velocity of the switching wave, v, is obtained: v is shown to be directly
Chemistry of thienopyridines. XIII. Selective formation of sulfones in Bi- and tricyclic Systems. Thieno[2,3-b]pyridine 1,1-dioxide as a dienophile

Bicyclic and tricyclic thienopyridines are converted into sulfones in 13-73% yield by means of acid-hypochlorite. The sulfone thieno[2,3-b]pyridine 1,1-oxide (Ib) undergoes Diels-Alder condensation with furan (both exo and endo products formed), anthracene, and naphthacene. Self-condensation of Ib occurs with elimination of sulfur dioxide to give 8-(3-pyridyl)quinoline (XV). The structure of XV was established by means of pmr and a europium shift reagent. Ultraviolet, pmr, and mass spectral data for various compounds are presented and discussed.
Haskore music notation – An algebra of music –

We have developed a simple algebraic approach to music description and composition called Haskore. In this framework, musical objects consist of primitive notions such as notes and rests, operations to transform musical objects such as transpose and tempo-scaling, and operations to combine musical objects to form more complex ones, such as concurrent and sequential composition. When these simple notions are embedded into a functional language such as Haskell, rather complex musical relationships can be expressed clearly and succinctly. Exploiting the algebraic properties of Haskore, we have further defined a notion of literal performance (devoid of articulation) through which observationally equivalent musical objects can be determined. With this basis many useful properties can be proved, such as commutative, associative, and distributive properties of various operators. An algebra of music thus surfaces.
Evidence-based treatments for children and adolescents.

(2006). BOOK COMMENTARY: Evidence-Based Treatments for Children and Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology: Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 480-486.
Oscillatory Electrohydrodynamic Gas Flows

Prior numerical solutions of electrohydrodynamic flows in a positive-corona, wire-plate electrostatic precipitator are extended to reveal steady-periodic electrohydrodynamic flows. Previously, only steady solutions were reported. The present study includes results for flows with Reynolds numbers from 0 to 4,800 and with dimensionless electric number ranging from 0.06 to {infinity}. Results indicate that two regimes of low frequency oscillatory flow occur. The first regime is characterized by a single recirculating vortex that oscillates in strength between one and five Hertz. The second regime is characterized by two counter-rotating vortices that oscillate in strength at a frequency near one Hertz.
Electrodiagnostic testing in neuromuscular disorders

For the past approximately six decades, electrodiagnostic testing or electrodiagnosis (EDX) has played an increasingly important role in the clinical evaluation of patients who have neuromuscular disorders. This in part is because of a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders. Also of importance is the development of the techniques themselves, beginning with basic needle electromyography (EMG) and electroneurography (or nerve conduction studies [NCS]) in the 1940s. Today the clinician has a larger menu of testing options, including somatosensory evoked potentials, quantitative EMG, single fiber EMG, and autonomic testing. The advent of computers has added speed and accuracy to testing. This article is limited to summarizing the EDX results expected in commonly encountered neuromuscular disorders and symptoms. Many findings on EDX are sensitive indicators of abnormality (eg, fibrillation potentials) but not necessarily specific. Fibrillation potentials may be recorded in neurogenic and myopathic disorders and rarely in neuromuscular junction disorders, such as myasthenia gravis. For discussion of details regarding the testing techniques and which parts of the peripheral nervous system they test, the reader is referred to general references in clinical neurophysiology [1–3]. The optimal use of EDX begins with placing it in the proper perspective of the patient’s evaluation. EDX is not meant to replace a thorough history and physical examination, rather to confirm the clinical diagnostic impression. If no objective findings are present and the history is questionable, clinical reassessment at an appropriate later point or other clinical consultation may be preferable to pursuing EDX testing. In some diseases
Resource-bounded sensing and planning in autonomous systems

This paper is concerned with the implications of limited computational resources and uncertainty on the design of autonomous systems. To address this problem, we redefine the principal role of sensor interpretation and planning processes. Following Agre and Chapman's plan-as-communication approach, sensing and planning are treated as computational processes that provide information to an execution architecture and thus improve the overall performance of the system. We argue that autonomous systems must be able to trade off the quality of this information with the computational resources required to produce it. Anytime algorithms, whose quality of results improves gradually as computation time increases, provide useful performance components for time-critical sensing and planning in robotic systems. In our earlier work, we introduced a compilation scheme for optimal composition of anytime algorithms. This paper demonstrates the applicability of the compilation technique to the construction of autonomous systems. The result is a flexible approach to construct systems that can operate robustly in real-time by exploiting the tradeoff between time and quality in planning, sensing and plan execution.
Husbands' and Wives' Relative Influence on Fertility Decisions and Outcomes

This research was supported by NICHD Center for Population Research Contract No. HD52807 and Research Scientist Development Award No. AA00002 from NIAAA to the author. The important contributions of Philip Bardsley to this research and to earlier drafts of this paper are gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Tom Day and Linda Moody Chilingar for their data analytic and statistical skills and to Cathey Heron for her assistance throughout the course of this project.
Neutralization of Alpha-Staphylotoxin Cytotoxic Effect with Human And Monkey Immune Globulins

SummaryStaphylococcal α toxin produced cytopathogenic effect in human embryonic kidney tissue cultures. This effect could be neutralized with whole serum and by the IgG but not by the IgA and IgM fractions of human and other primate sera, whereas these immune globulins interacted with antigen to form a precipitate. The neutralizing potency of the sera was more pronounced in persons with chronic staphylococcal skin lesions.
Comparison of Satellite, Thermochron and Air Temperatures at Summit, Greenland, During the Winter of 2008/09

Current trends show rise in Arctic surface and air temperatures, including over the Greenland ice sheet where rising temperatures will contribute to increased sea-level rise through increased melt. We aim to establish the uncertainties in using satellite-derived surface temperature for measuring Arctic surface temperature, as satellite data are increasingly being used to assess temperature trends. To accomplish this, satellite-derived surface temperature, or land-surface temperature (LST), must be validated and limitations of the satellite data must he assessed quantitatively. During the 2008/09 boreal winter at Summit, Greenland, we employed data from standard US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) air-temperature instruments, button-sized temperature sensors called thermochrons and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite instrument to (1) assess the accuracy and utility of thermochrons in an ice-sheet environment and (2) compare MODIS-derived LSTs with thermochron-derived surface and air temperatures. The thermochron-derived air temperatures were very accurate, within 0.1+/-0.3 C of the NOAA-derived air temperature, but thermochron-derived surface temperatures were approx. 3 C higher than MODIS-derived LSTs. Though the surface temperature is largely determined by air temperature, these variables can differ significantly. Furthermore, we show that the winter-time mean air temperature, adjusted to surface temperature was approx. 11 C higher than the winter-time mean MODIS-derived LST. This marked difference occurs largely because of satellite-derived LSTs cannot be measured through cloud cover, so caution must be exercised in using time series of satellite LST data to study seasonal temperature trends.
PriSense: Privacy-Preserving Data Aggregation in People-Centric Urban Sensing Systems

People-centric urban sensing is a new paradigm gaining popularity. A main obstacle to its widespread deployment and adoption are the privacy concerns of participating individuals. To tackle this open challenge, this paper presents the design and evaluation of PriSense, a novel solution to privacy-preserving data aggregation in people- centric urban sensing systems. PriSense is based on the concept of data slicing and mixing and can support a wide range of statistical additive and non-additive aggregation functions such as Sum, Average, Variance, Count, Max/Min, Median, Histogram, and Percentile with accurate aggregation results. PriSense can support strong user privacy against a tunable threshold number of colluding users and aggregation servers. The efficacy and efficiency of PriSense are confirmed by thorough analytical and simulation results.
Follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone ratio as an independent predictor of response to controlled ovarian stimulation

Aim: To determine whether a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) ratio over 3 in the setting of a normal FSH ( 3 and 477 patients had a FSH/LH ratio 40 years; estradiol (E2) prime protocols; E2 at start >70 pg/ml; and FSH at start >12 IU/l. The main outcome measure was cycle cancellation. Results: An elevated FSH/LH ratio >3 was more likely to result in the individual’s cycle cancelled (15 vs 5.24%; p = 0.0001). The total gonadotropin dosage was greater in the higher ratio versus lower ratio group (2636 vs 2242 IU; significant). Peak E2 was significantly lower in the FSH/LH >3 group (peak E2: 1635 vs 1942 pg/ml). Conclusion: The value of the FSH/LH ratio in patients with normal FSH levels, may have a role in determining the appropria...
Aldose reductase deficiency in mice protects from ragweed pollen extract (RWE)-induced allergic asthma.

Background Childhood hospitalization related to asthma remains at historically high levels, and its incidence is on the rise world-wide. Previously, we have demonstrated that aldose reductase (AR), a regulatory enzyme of polyol pathway, is a major mediator of allergen-induced asthma pathogenesis in mouse models. Here, using AR null (AR-/-) mice we have investigated the effect of AR deficiency on the pathogenesis of ragweed pollen extract (RWE)-induced allergic asthma in mice and also examined the efficacy of enteral administration of highly specific AR inhibitor, fidarestat.
A versatile method for systematic conformational searches: application to CheY.

A novel molecular structure prediction method, the Z Method, is described. It provides a versatile platform for the development and use of systematic, grid-based conformational search protocols, in which statistical information (i.e., rotamers) can also be included. The Z Method generates trial structures by applying many changes of the same type to a single starting structure, thereby sampling the conformation space in an unbiased way. The method, implemented in the CHARMM program as the Z Module, is applied here to an illustrative model problem in which rigid, systematic searches are performed in a 36-dimensional conformational space that describes the relative positions of the 10 secondary structural elements of the protein CheY. A polar hydrogen representation with an implicit solvation term (EEF1) is used to evaluate successively larger fragments of the protein generated in a hierarchical build-up procedure. After a final refinement stage, and a total computational time of about two-and-a-half CPU days on AMD Opteron processors, the prediction is within 1.56 A of the native structure. The errors in the predicted backbone dihedral angles are found to approximately cancel. Monte Carlo and simulated annealing trials on the same or smaller versions of the problem, using the same atomic model and energy terms, are shown to result in less accurate predictions. Although the problem solved here is a limited one, the findings illustrate the utility of systematic searches with atom-based models for macromolecular structure prediction and the importance of unbiased sampling in structure prediction methods.
Topological functors and right adjoints

Let T:A → L be an (L, M)-topological functor and S:B → Y a faithful functor. Let F:L → Y and L:A → B be functors with a:FT → SL an epi natural transformation. We are concerned with the question of when L has a right adjoint given that F has a right adjoint. We give two characterizations of the existence of a right adjoint to L. One involves just the “topological data” and the other is an application of Freyd's adjoint functor theorem. As a consequence, we characterize when a category which is monoidal and (L, M)-topological over a monoidal closed category is also closed.
Enhanced mucosal priming by cholera toxin and procholeragenoid with a lipoidal amine adjuvant (avridine) delivered in liposomes.

The mucosal adjuvant activity of avridine, a synthetic lipoidal amine [N,N-dioctadecyl-N',N'-(2-hydroxymethyl) propanediamine, previously designated CP-20,961), was studied in rats immunized intraintestinally with cholera toxin or procholeragenoid. Avridine was most efficient as an adjuvant when incorporated into liposomes; liposomes that lacked avridine had no adjuvant effect. Coadministration of avridine-containing liposomes with enteric priming doses of cholera toxin or procholeragenoid enhanced the efficiency of priming for secondary mucosal anti-cholera toxin responses, i.e., the establishment of memory, five- to sevenfold. Avridine-containing liposomes had no significant effect, however, on either the primary mucosal anti-cholera toxin response, when given with the primary dose of antigen, or on the secondary response, when given with the booster dose to previously primed animals. Little or no adjuvant effect occurred when avridine-containing liposomes were given concurrently with antigen, but at a separate mucosal site or parenterally, or at the site of enteric immunization, but 1 day earlier or later. These results support the notion that adjuvants may be developed which enhance the mucosal immunogenicity of locally applied antigens and suggest that liposomes may be effective vehicles for delivery of such adjuvants.
PIC simulations of power flow in the URSA minor linear transformer driver for radiographic applications

Summary form only given. The linear transformer driver (LTD) is a promising technology for building a compact, high-voltage driver for radiographic applications. The 21 cavity Ursa Minor LTD at Sandia National Laboratories is designed to deliver an output voltage of 2.5 MV. This system provides the first opportunity to evaluate the effects of substantial electron flow in a many-cavity driver at the low end of the voltage range needed for radiography. Each cavity has ten bricks (two capacitors and a single switch). Improving the accuracy and reliability of trigger timing for the 210 switches is a major focus of the research effort on this system.Two PIC simulation models of this driver are being developed with the Quicksilver code at Sandia. A 2-D, azimuthally symmetric, r-z model can efficiently simulate the entire system, including the diode. Each of the 21 cavities is driven with its own external RLC circuit that can be independently triggered. The most recent work with this model has been addressing issues in the diode. In addition, a new, full-360° 3-D model is being used to address the effects of azimuthal asymmetry in the MITL. Currently, the first 14 cavities are modeled with an equivalent single coaxial feed, and each of the last seven cavities is driven by ten independently triggered RLC circuits, uniformly distributed in azimuth. Electrons are emitted from the central cathode with a conventional space-charge-limited emission model.
Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers with diffraction-based integrated optical displacement detection

Capacitive detection limits the performance of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) by providing poor sensitivity below megahertz frequencies and limiting acoustic power output by imposing constraints on the membrane-substrate gap height. In this paper, an integrated optical interferometric detection method for CMUTs, which provides high displacement sensitivity independent of operation frequency and device capacitance, is reported. The method also enables optoelectronics integration in a small volume and provides optoelectronic isolation between transmit and receive electronics. Implementation of the method involves fabricating CMUTs on transparent substrates and shaping the electrode under each individual CMUT membrane in the form of an optical diffraction grating. Each CMUT membrane thus forms a phase-sensitive optical diffraction grating structure that is used to measure membrane displacements down to 2/spl times/10/sup -4/ /spl Aring///spl radic/Hz level in the dc to 2-MHz range. Test devices are fabricated on quartz substrates, and ultrasonic array imaging in air is performed using a single 4-mm square CMUT consisting of 19/spl times/19 array of membranes operating at 750 kHz.
Transform domain techniques for efficient extraction of substrate parasitics

A semi-analytical technique for computation of the frequency- behavior of silicon substrates is demonstrated. The technique uses a boundary element approach, that utilizes the complex substrate Green Function and the two-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform. The resultant dense system matrix is sparsified by application of orthogonal transform operators on the matrix representing the system. Three transform operators are evaluated for this purpose - the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and the Discrete Hadamard Transform (DHT). The application of any one of these operators provides a rigorous sparsification technique, which significantly reduces the computation time. The Green Function is computed in the two layers at the top of the substrate. This is done so that contacts in the oxide layer can be included in the substrate model, along with contacts in the silicon substrate. Hence, substrate loss terms in metal interconnect lines and in line-to- line interaction models, can be evaluated using this technique. Extraction of a simple circuit-simulator compatible model from frequency-domain data is discussed.
Put Them Out to Pasture? What Are Old Granule Cells Good for, Anyway…?

In this issue, Alme and colleagues propose a novel hypothesis that young adult-born neurons represent the functional population of the dentate gyrus, and that old granule cells “retire” from relevance. Here, we present several implications of this interesting theory for the function of both neurogenesis and the dentate gyrus. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Information Deficits in Home Care: A Barrier to Evidence-Based Disease Management

A disease management study conducted in home care with 303 patients with diabetes, heart failure, or both revealed information deficits that make disease and quality management difficult. Nurses us...
A comparison and optimization of yeast two-hybrid systems

Two-hybrid (Y2H) assays are available in a variety of different versions, including bacterial, yeast, and mammalian systems. However, even when done exclusively in yeast, multiple different host strains, vectors, reporter genes, or protocols can be used. Here we systematically compare protein-protein interactions (PPIs) from several previously published Y2H datasets. PPIs of a human gold-standard dataset were generated by Y2H assays as well as other methods such as LUMIER or protein fragment complementation assays (PCAs). Different Y2H methods detect substantially different subsets of these PPIs, even when protocols are standardized. In order to maximize the number of interactions found and to minimize the number of false positive interactions we recommend to combine multiple vectors and protocols. While the combined results of all 18 methods detected about 92% of a gold-standard interaction set, a combination of just three Y2H assays detected up to 78% of these protein pairs, or up to 83% when a fourth assay was included. These findings indicate that three or four separate assays may be sufficient to detect the majority of protein-protein interactions in many systems.
Monitoring, reporting and addressing child rights and protection violations in 'non-listed' countries

Children have been affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for several generations. Recent reports(1) state that they are subject to a number of grave violations, ranging from killing and maiming to detention and ill-treatment. The monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM) for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005), although not formally mandated in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), has been successfully adapted and used by humanitarian and human rights agencies to support monitoring, reporting, and responding to violations against children. However, agencies in Israel and the oPt face a number of challenges in doing so, which are common in other countries where the MRM is employed. These include limited recognition and understanding of the issues, insufficient resources, and a difficult operational environment. Despite these challenges, local adaptation of the mechanism to reflect the specific situation of children and close collaboration have enabled these agencies to monitor and respond to violations against children in a more effective manner. Language: en
The geographic eye: Seeing through GIS?

Vermeer's sixteenth-century painting ‘The Geographer’ captures the geographer in the act of doing geography, but looking up and away from a map. As professional geographers, many of us now do geography ‘through’ geographic information systems. We too need to look up from the screen in order to understand the act of thinking geographically. With such an understanding, we can design geographic information systems that are both developmentally appropriate and that support the development of the geographic eye. This paper offers a first approximation to a description of the structure and function of the geographic eye whose operation can be supported by a geographic information system.
Pursuing the "holy grail"

Over the past decade, several large, randomized trials have allowed us to better define the appropriate population for primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement, saving thousands of lives every year. MADIT II (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II) and SCD-HeFT (Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial) have demonstrated a survival benefit of 31% and 23% over 20 and 45.5 months follow-up, respectively.1,2 However, our selection criteria that are mostly based on the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are of limited specificity. Long-term follow-up data show that only 35% of patients ever receive an appropriate shock for ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) during a 3-year follow-up.3 Article see p 178 In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging , Wu et al4 report their intriguing results in 235 patients who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention according to the SCD-HeFT/MADIT II criteria. Ischemia was the most prevalent etiology (58%) of the cardiomyopathy, and all patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as well as baseline blood draws at the time of implantation. At least 90% of patients were receiving β-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker therapy. During the median follow-up period of 3.6 years, 19% of patients experienced the primary end point of appropriate ICD shock for VT/VF or cardiac death. The full-width half-maximum method previously published by the group was used to separate delayed enhancement on MRI into dense scar (scar core) or heterogeneous scar (gray zone). Indeed, the investigators found that the gray zone mass was significantly higher in patients who experienced the primary end point, whereas LVEF was only of borderline significance. In a multivariate analysis comparing patients according to tertiles of gray zone, the middle or highest tertile had a hazard ratio of 3.9 (95% CI, 1.2–12.4) and 4.6 (95% …
Advanced Healthcare: A Look At The Current Online Trends

Since it took a while to recognize the significance of marketing in the field of healthcare, one could have doubts when it comes to the use of the Internet in healthcare marketing. Yet, the growing use of the Internet in healthcare supports the notion that the Internet is probably the most powerful vehicle for distributing health information to millions of individuals and it is one of the best marketing tools in this field. Accordingly, we are now witnessing so many practices that we can safely assume that it is now the time for e-commerce in healthcare industry. While this may be true for many, there are also some who are concerned about using the online options in the field of healthcare. Since these concerns are mostly about the questionable accuracy of the “health” information on the net, they are rather serious and deserve an in-depth look. This paper reviews some of the current practices in the field and provides some examples of “good” and “not-so-good” online options. It is hoped that the review of these examples will result in similar inquiries in the future and as these “not-so-good” options are exposed more, they will eventually be replaced with the “good” ones.
Radiosensitization of epidermal growth factor receptor/HER2-positive pancreatic cancer is mediated by inhibition of Akt independent of ras mutational status.

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members (e.g., EGFR, HER2, HER3, and HER4) are commonly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. We investigated the effects of inhibition of EGFR/HER2 signaling on pancreatic cancer to elucidate the role(s) of EGFR/HER2 in radiosensitization and to provide evidence in support of further clinical investigations. Experimental Design: Expression of EGFR family members in pancreatic cancer lines was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Cell growth inhibition was determined by MTS assay. The effects of inhibition of EGFR family receptors and downstream signaling pathways on in vitro radiosensitivity were evaluated using clonogenic assays. Growth delay was used to evaluate the effects of nelfinavir on in vivo tumor radiosensitivity. Results: Lapatinib inhibited cell growth in four pancreatic cancer cell lines, but radiosensitized only wild-type K- ras –expressing T3M4 cells. Akt activation was blocked in a wild-type K- ras cell line, whereas constitutive phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was seen in lines expressing mutant K- ras . Overexpression of constitutively active K- ras (G12V) abrogated lapatinib-mediated inhibition of both Akt phosphorylation and radiosensitization. Inhibition of MAP/ERK kinase/ERK signaling with U0126 had no effect on radiosensitization, whereas inhibition of activated Akt with LY294002 (enhancement ratio, 1.2-1.8) or nelfinavir (enhancement ratio, 1.2-1.4) radiosensitized cells regardless of K- ras mutation status. Oral nelfinavir administration to mice bearing mutant K- ras –containing Capan-2 xenografts resulted in a greater than additive increase in radiation-mediated tumor growth delay (synergy assessment ratio of 1.5). Conclusions: Inhibition of EGFR/HER2 enhances radiosensitivity in wild-type K- ras pancreatic cancer. Nelfinavir, and other phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt inhibitors, are effective pancreatic radiosensitizers regardless of K- ras mutation status. Clin Cancer Res; 16(3); 912–23
Variability in Gene Expression and Tumor Formation within Genetically Homogeneous Animal Populations in Bioassays

Abstract Considerable variation in susceptibility to tissue-specific tumor formation in response to chronic treatment with low or intermediate dose levels of putative carcinogens is observed within populations of genetically homogeneous test animals under controlled environmental conditions. Experimental evidence from National Toxicology Program studies is reviewed, as are studies of differing degrees of carcinogenic response and tumor promotion among iso- and congenic mice carrying the A vy (viable yellow) mutation. The data suggest that individual variations in carcinogenic response among genetically homogeneous animals may derive primarily from differences in regulation of gene transcription. Differences in posttranscriptional and posttranslational processing of gene products are probably also contributing factors. The viable yellow A vy / a mouse model system is uniquely suited for investigating the developmental and molecular bases of this phenotypic variability in genetically homogeneous populations since various degrees of carcinogenic response and promotion of tumor formation can be predicted, a priori, at least as early as 7 days of age by correlation with coat color patterns. Ectopic expression of the agouti protein results in enhanced susceptibility to tumor formation in tissues which are already sensitized to neoplastic transformation by their strain genome. The differences in tumorigenic response and coat color pattern among A vy /− mice appear to be associated with different DNA methylation states of the promoter of an intracisternal A particle inserted into exon 1A of the agouti gene.
Patient reports of health outcome for adults living with sickle cell disease: development and testing of the ASCQ-Me item banks

Providers and patients have called for improved understanding of the health care requirements of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) and have identified the need for a systematic, reliable and valid method to document the patient-reported outcomes (PRO) of adult SCD care. To address this need, the Adult Sickle Cell Quality of Life Measurement System (ASCQ-Me) was designed to complement the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS®). Here we describe methods and results of the psychometric evaluation of ASCQ-Me item banks (IBs). At seven geographically-disbursed clinics within the US, 556 patients responded to questions generated to assess cognitive, emotional, physical and social impacts of SCD. We evaluated the construct validity of the hypothesized domains using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), parallel analysis (PA), and bi-factor analysis (Item Response Theory Graded Response Model, IRT-GRM). We used IRT-GRM and the Wald method to identify bias in responses across gender and age. We used IRT and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient to evaluate the reliability of the IBs and then tested the ability of summary scores based on IRT calibrations to discriminate among tertiles of respondents defined by SCD severity. Of the original 140 questions tested, we eliminated 48 that either did not form clean factors or provided biased measurement across subgroups defined by age and gender. Via EFA and PA, we identified three subfactors within physical impact: sleep, pain and stiffness impacts. Analysis of the resulting six item sets (sleep, pain, stiffness, cognitive, emotional and social impacts of SCD) supported their essential unidimensionality. With the exception of the cognitive impact IB, these item sets also were highly reliable across a broad range of values and highly significantly related to SCD disease severity. ASCQ-Me pain, sleep, stiffness, emotional and social SCD impact IBs demonstrated exceptional measurement properties using modern and classical psychometric methods of evaluation. Further development of the cognitive impact IB is required to improve its sensitivity to differences in SCD disease severity. Future research will evaluate the sensitivity of the ASCQ-Me IBs to change in SCD disease severity over time due to health interventions.