cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Measurement

Free oxygen radicals such as superoxide anion (O2¯), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorite (OHCl), and hydroxyl radical (OH) are called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Free radicals have a very short half-life and are continuously produced, mainly by white blood cells (WBC) and especially by granulocytes and abnormal sperm. Excessive amounts of ROS impair sperm quality. ROS levels can be measured with the chemiluminescence method using luminol as a probe.
Laboratory Innovation Towards Quality Program Sustainability.

Laboratory innovation significantly affects program sustainability of HIV programs in low and middle income countries (LMICs) far beyond its immediate sphere of impact. Innovation in rapid development of diagnostic technologies, improved quality management systems, strengthened laboratory management, affordable external quality assurance and accreditation schemes, and building local capacity have reduced costs, brought quality improvement to point-of-care testing, increased access to testing services, reduced treatment and prevention costs and opened the door to the real possibility of ending the AIDS epidemic. However, for effectively implemented laboratory innovation to contribute to HIV quality program sustainability, it must be implemented within the overall context of the national strategic plan and HIV treatment programs. The high quality of HIV rapid diagnostic test was a breakthrough that made it possible for more persons to learn their HIV status, receive counseling, and if infected to receive treatment. Likewise, the use of dried blood spots made the shipment of samples easier for the assessment of different variables of HIV infection—molecular diagnosis, CD4+ cell counts, HIV antibodies, drug resistance surveillance, and even antiretroviral drug level measurements. Such advancement is critical for to reaching the UNAIDS target of 90-90-90 and for bringing the AIDS epidemic to an end, especially in LMICs.
Notice of Violation of IEEE Publication Principles Solid modeling of human vocal tract using magnetic resonance imaging and acoustic pharyngometer

This investigation uses a multi disciplinary approach to standardize a non-invasive method for measuring human vocal tract morphology. A series of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are performed on the subject's vocal tract and a detailed three-dimensional model is created through image processing and computer modeling. The area and volume obtained from the solid model is compared with that obtained from the Eccovision acoustic pharyngometer. This establishes the accuracy of the solid model. The model is then used to develop other specific models through parametric modeling. This method is useful in creating solid models with limited geometrical information and helps researchers study the human vocal tract changes due to aging and degenerative diseases.
Pd-Catalyzed Acyl C-O Bond Activation for Selective Ring-Opening of α-Methylene-β-lactones with Amines.

A Pd-catalyzed ring-opening of β-lactones with various types of amines (primary, secondary, and aryl) to provide β-hydroxy amides with excellent selectivity toward acyl C–O bond cleavage is reported. The utility of this protocol is demonstrated in an asymmetric kinetic resolution providing enantioenriched α-methylene-β-lactones.
Anteromedializing Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy for Patellofemoral Instability: Occupational and Functional Outcomes in U.S. Military Service Members.

This article sought to determine rates for return to work, pain relief, and recurrent patellofemoral instability for military service members undergoing tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) for persistent lateral patellar subluxation or dislocation. Patient demographic and surgical variables were isolated from the medical records of active duty service members with at least 2 years of postoperative follow-up, and correlated with return to work, pain improvement, recurrent patellofemoral instability, and perioperative complications. There were 51 service members (58 primary TTOs) with an average follow-up of 3.3 (range, 2.0-6.7) years. Service members had an average of 2.8 (1-12) instability events preoperatively. At a minimum of 2 years postoperatively, 41 (80%) military service members returned to full active duty service. Among the 58 TTOs, there was a 46% improvement in the patient-reported visual analog score from 4.1 to 2.2 (p 0.05). The overall complication rate was 10%. Postoperative tibial fractures occurred in 6.9% of TTOs. At short- to mid-term follow-up, 80% of service members undergoing TTO for patellofemoral instability returned to military duty with significant improvement in pain scores and a moderate perioperative complication and postoperative instability rate. This study is a level IV therapeutic case series.
mzStudio: A Dynamic Digital Canvas for User-Driven Interrogation of Mass Spectrometry Data.

Although not yet truly ‘comprehensive’, modern mass spectrometry-based experiments can generate quantitative data for a meaningful fraction of the human proteome. Importantly for large-scale protein expression analysis, robust data pipelines are in place for identification of un-modified peptide sequences and aggregation of these data to protein-level quantification. However, interoperable software tools that enable scientists to computationally explore and document novel hypotheses for peptide sequence, modification status, or fragmentation behavior are not well-developed. Here, we introduce mzStudio, an open-source Python module built on our multiplierz project. This desktop application provides a highly-interactive graphical user interface (GUI) through which scientists can examine and annotate spectral features, re-search existing PSMs to test different modifications or new spectral matching algorithms, share results with colleagues, integrate other domain-specific software tools, and finally create publication-quality graphics. mzStudio leverages our common application programming interface (mzAPI) for access to native data files from multiple instrument platforms, including ion trap, quadrupole time-of-flight, Orbitrap, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization, and triple quadrupole mass spectrometers and is compatible with several popular search engines including Mascot, Proteome Discoverer, X!Tandem, and Comet. The mzStudio toolkit enables researchers to create a digital provenance of data analytics and other evidence that support specific peptide sequence assignments.
Total vaginectomy and urethral lengthening at time of neourethral prelamination in transgender men

For transgender men (TGM), gender-affirmation surgery (GAS) is often the final stage of their gender transition. GAS involves creating a neophallus, typically using tissue remote from the genital region, such as radial forearm free-flap phalloplasty. Essential to this process is vaginectomy. Complexity of vaginal fascial attachments, atrophy due to testosterone use, and need to preserve integrity of the vaginal epithelium for tissue rearrangement add to the intricacy of the procedure during GAS. We designed the technique presented here to minimize complications and contribute to overall success of the phalloplasty procedure. After obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board, our transgender (TG) database at the University of Miami Hospital was reviewed to identify cases with vaginectomy and urethral elongation performed at the time of radial forearm free-flap phalloplasty prelamination. Surgical technique for posterior vaginectomy and anterior vaginal wall-flap harvest with subsequent urethral lengthening is detailed. Six patients underwent total vaginectomy and urethral elongation at the time of radial forearm free-flap phalloplasty prelamination. Mean estimated blood loss (EBL) was 290 ± 199.4 ml for the vaginectomy and urethral elongation, and no one required transfusion. There were no intraoperative complications (cystotomy, ureteral obstruction, enterotomy, proctotomy, or neurological injury). One patient had a urologic complication (urethral stricture) in the neobulbar urethra. Total vaginectomy and urethral lengthening procedures at the time of GAS are relatively safe procedures, and using the described technique provides excellent tissue for urethral prelamination and a low complication rate in both the short and long term.
Avoiding interference from hidden terminals with carrier tones

A new approach to collision avoidance is described that is based on the use of carrier tones sent over a single control channel. A carrier tone can indicate that the sender is busy transmitting a request-to-send (RTS), the receiver is busy receiving a data packet, or the receiver is sending an acknowledgment (ACK). RTS, data packets, and end of transmission (ET) packets are sent over the primary data channel without using carrier sensing. The throughout of the resulting protocol, which we call Carrier-Tone Multiple Access (CTMA), is compared with the throughput of CSMA with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol and the dual busy-tone multiple access (DBTMA) protocol. The results of the analysis show that CTMA is a more efficient channel-access scheme than the other two approaches.
Alcohol and Drug Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training and Implementation: Perspectives from 4 Health Professions.

Author(s): Wamsley, Maria; Satterfield, Jason M; Curtis, Alexa; Lundgren, Lena; Satre, Derek D | Abstract: ObjectivesScreening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) can effectively identify and address substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUDs), and can be delivered by a range of trained health professionals. Yet, barriers remain to effective training and implementation of SBIRT in health and social service settings, and models of interprofessional collaboration in SBIRT delivery are underdeveloped.MethodsWe reviewed current literature regarding SBIRT effectiveness, training, and implementation by physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers. An SBIRT expert and representative from each health profession synthesized literature and training experiences to inform the development of interprofessional training and collaborative implementation strategies.ResultsEach of the health professions involved in SBIRT training and implementation have strengths and weaknesses that influence how SBIRT is taught, learned, and delivered. Some of these are specific to the components of SBIRT, for example, screening versus brief intervention, whereas others depend on profession-driven competencies, for example, motivational interviewing. Professional organizations have encouraged a range of tailored SBIRT training initiatives, but true interprofessional training and the implementation of collaborative, team-based care are largely unrealized.ConclusionsSBIRT can be a valuable approach to screening and treatment for SUDs when delivered by a range of healthcare professionals. A more nuanced understanding of the assumptions and characteristics of each profession, informed by the emerging field of implementation science, may shape more effective training curricula and highlight interprofessional models of SBIRT delivery that maximize the strengths of each profession.
The Fuel Cycle Effect of 236U in Pressurized Water Reactors

The effect of the introduction of /sup 236/U because of the recycling of nuclear fuel has been determined for a typical pressurized water reactor fuel cycle. It has been estimated that an extra 0.255 g of /sup 235/U is required for each gram of /sup 236/U present at the beginning of exposure. In terms of cost, the additional /sup 235/U translates into an about1% increase in the fuel cost for every gram of /sup 236/U. The value of the uranium component of the exposed fuel has also been calculated in terms of the savings in separative work and the feed requirements resulting from the use of recycled uranium. While the exact value depends on the fuel cycle component costs and the relative concentrations of /sup 235/U and /sup 236/U, it is estimated that even after accounting for the presence of /sup 236/U, the use of reprocessed uranium may result in a total saving of about14% in ore and enrichment costs. It was also found that upon repeated recycling, /sup 236/U reaches an equilibrium concentration, but only if the recycled fuel ratio in the feed to enrichment plant is limited to about 1 part in 5.
Rh Factor and Rh System

Rh factor refers to the D antigen on the erythrocyte membrane, the first antigen identified as belonging to the human Rh blood group system. It is so named because of anti-Rh, an antibody made in rabbits when injected with rhesus monkey blood. Over seven decades of studies have unveiled a complex, polymorphic system containing five common antigens (D, C, c, E, and e) and numerous allelic variants at the level of populations. The five antigens reside on different Rh polypeptides encoded by RHD and RHCE genes in tandem on chromosome 1p34-36.2. Rh factor is most potent in eliciting alloimmune reaction and its incompatible state, Rh positive (D+) versus Rh negative (D–), is a major cause of hemolytic disease of fetuses and newborns. The expression of Rh polypeptides at cell surface entails a genetic as well as a physical interaction with the homolog, Rh-associated glycoprotein (RhAG). The two proteins appear to mediate a macromolecular assembly in the plasma membrane dubbed ‘Rh membrane complex’. Inactivation of either the RH or RHAG locus by rare mutations results in the Rh deficiency syndrome, a genetic disorder that exhibits a varying degree of anemia, stomatocytosis, and membrane abnormalities. Rh factor is the founding member of the Rh protein family that has apparently arisen from a recent gene duplication event during primate evolution. Rh polypeptides and RhAG have, in parallel, undergone fast evolution in mammals with respect to their epithelial RhBG and RhCG homologs. The selective pressure underlying this acceleration is obscure, but could be related to the adaptive changes involving immunological and morphological processes during erythrocyte evolution. The biological role, the physicochemical mechanism, and the substrate specificity of Rh proteins with regard to CO 2 or ammonia transport remain to be established.
Retinal Tissue Oxygen Tension in Normoxic Cats Under Enflurane Anesthesia

Purpose. General anesthesia reduces systemic blood pressure and, thus, ocular perfusion pressure (at constant intraocular pressure). Whether this reduction in ocular perfusion pressure produces retinal hypoxia is unknown. To answer this question, the authors measured inner retinal oxygen tension in cats under general enflurane anesthesia at three clinically relevant levels of anesthesia under normoxic conditions. Methods. Polarographic oxygen microelectrodes were used to measure inner retinal oxygen tension in cats under enflurane anesthesia at 21% inspired oxygen tension. Measurements were made in the preretinal vitreous body within 100 to 200 μm of the internal limiting membrane of the retina. Three levels of enflurane anesthesia were used : 1.2%, 2.4%, and 3.6%, corresponding to 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 minimal alveolar concentration. Intraocular pressure of the cats was maintained at a constant normal level throughout the experiments. Results. Under normoxic conditions, inner retinal oxygen tension remained unchanged or increased slightly as ocular perfusion pressure decreased with deeper levels of enflurane anesthesia. Conclusion. Commonly used surgical levels of enflurane general anesthesia do not cause hypoxia of the inner retina in cats breathing 21% inspired oxygen. This may be the result of preservation of retinal vascular autoregulation under enflurane anesthesia, retinal vasodilatation secondary to a direct smooth muscle relaxing effect of enflurane, or decreased retinal oxygen use under enflurane anesthesia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995 ;36 :1943-1946.
Functional and Basal Cerebral Metabolic Rate for Oxygen (CMRO2) and its Relevance to the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Brain Injury

The concept of separating the oxygen consumed by the brain into that associated with EEG activity and the maintenance of brain viability, probably began when Kety suggested that, “ Since anesthetics act by reversible inhibition of synaptic transmission, suppression of all EEG activity by anesthetics should be that attributable to CMRO2 associated with that needed for EEG activity”.1 Subsequently, Michenfelder showed that infusion of massive doses of thiopental in dogs whose circulation was supported by cardiopulmonary bypass, reduced CMRO2 to approximately 50% of normal.2 Infusion of thiopental at doses exceeding the dose required to render the EEG isoelectric by several fold did not further reduce CMRO2 (Figure 1). To dispel the notion that all anesthetics have this maximal effect in depressing CMRO2 to 50% of normal with the abolition of the EEG and CMRO2 is not suppressed by further massive doses of any anesthetics, Michenfelder3 also showed that with increasing dose of halothane anesthesia, there was a linear decrease in CMRO2 apparently due to a toxic effect of halothane (Figure 2).4
Children eat more food when they prepare it themselves

Encouraging children to participate in food preparation is recommended by pediatric guidelines and has been included in public health interventions. However, little is known about whether the act of preparing a food specifically increases children's intake of that food, nor is it known whether this effect might differ for healthy and familiar unhealthy foods. The present study examines whether 5- to 7-year-old children eat more of a food they prepared themselves compared to the same food prepared by someone else. Children participated in a laboratory study in which they prepared either a salad or a dessert and then had the opportunity to eat the food they prepared and/or a nearly identical food prepared by someone else. We found that children ate more of a food they prepared themselves, but no significant difference was observed in children's ratings of each food. In addition to eating more healthy foods they prepared themselves, children ate more unhealthy foods they prepared themselves, including familiar and well-liked desserts. More specific recommendations are needed if the goal of involving children in food preparation is to promote health.
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ABNORMALITIES AND THE PRESENCE OF MYOCARDIAL SCAR IN PATIENTS WITH DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a disorder caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. In this population, cardiomyopathy has become the major cause of death and currently there are no clear methods to identify DMD patients at risk for myocardial dysfunction. Known electrocardiogram (ECG)
Single mode dispersive waves and soliton microcomb dynamics

Dispersive-wave scattering from dissipative Kerr solitons is induced by spatial-mode interactions within a high-Q micro-resonator. A limiting case, single-mode dispersive waves, are observed and their interaction with the soliton causes hysteretic behavior.
Identification of Three Antimicrobials Activating Serotonin Receptor 4 in Colon Cells

The serotonin receptor 4b (5-HTR4b) is expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract, and its agonists are used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Today, there are no rapid assays for the identification of 5-HTR4b agonists. Here, we developed a luciferase-based 5-HTR4b assay capable of assessing one compound per second with a 38-fold dynamic range and nM limit of detection for serotonin. We used the assay to screen more than 1000 natural products and anti-infection agents and identified five new 5-HTR4b ligands: hordenine, halofuginone, proflavine, ethacridine, and revaprazan. We demonstrate that hordenine (antibiofilm), halofuginone (antiparasitic), and revaprazan (gastric acid reducer) activate 5-HTR4b in human colon epithelial cells, leading to increased cell motility or wound healing. The 5-HTR4b assay can be used to screen larger pharmaceutical libraries to identify novel treatments for IBS-C. This work shows that antimicrobials interact not only with the gut microbiota, but also with the human host.
Accurate prediction of genetic circuit behavior requires multidimensional characterization of parts

Mathematical models can aid the design of genetic circuits, but may yield inaccurate results if individual parts are not modeled at the appropriate resolution. To illustrate the importance of this concept, we study transcriptional cascades consisting of two inducible synthetic transcription factors connected in series. Despite the simplicity of this design, we find that accurate prediction of circuit behavior requires mapping the dose responses of each circuit component along the dimensions of both its expression level and its inducer concentration. With such multidimensional characterizations, we were able to computationally explore the behavior of 16 different circuit designs. We experimentally verified a subset of these predictions and found substantial agreement. This method of biological part characterization enables the use of models to identify (un)desired circuit behaviors prior to experimental implementation, thus shortening the design-build-test cycle for more complex circuits.
Hemocyte differentiation mediates the mosquito late-phase immune response against Plasmodium in Anopheles gambiae

Plasmodium parasites must complete development in the mosquito vector for transmission to occur. The mosquito innate immune response is remarkably efficient in limiting parasite numbers. Previous work has identified a LPS-induced TNFα transcription factor (LITAF)-like transcription factor, LITAF-like 3 (LL3), which significantly influences parasite numbers. Here, we demonstrate that LL3 does not influence invasion of the mosquito midgut epithelium or ookinete-to-oocyst differentiation but mediates a late-phase immune response that decreases oocyst survival. LL3 expression in the midgut and hemocytes is activated by ookinete midgut invasion and is independent of the mosquito microbiota, suggesting that LL3 may be a component of a wound-healing response. LL3 silencing abrogates the ability of mosquito hemocytes to differentiate and respond to parasite infection, implicating hemocytes as critical modulators of the late-phase immune response.
De novo sequencing of nonribosomal peptides

While nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) are of tremendous pharmacological importance, there is currently no technology capable of high-throughput sequencing of NRPs. Difficulties in sequencing NRPs slow down the progress in elucidating the non-ribosomal genetic code and negatively affect various screening programs aimed at the discovery of natural compounds of medical importance. We propose to employ multi-stage mass-spectrometry (MSn) for the data acquisition, followed by alignment-based heuristic algorithms for data analysis. Since mass spectrometry based analysis of NRPs is fast and inexpensive, this approach opens the possibility of high-throughput sequencing of many unknown NRPs accumulated in large screening programs.
Piezoelectric actuators : 2006 Expansion from IT/robotics to ecological/energy applications

Piezoelectric actuators have been commercialized in various areas such as information technology, robotics, bio-, medical engineering, ecological and energy engineering. This paper reviews their recent application developments and foresees the future of piezoelectric actuators.
ADP- and epinephrine-elicited release of [3H]guanylylimododiphosphate from platelet membranes: Implications for receptor-Ni stoichiometry

Abstract Epinephrine-promoted release of [ 3 H]guanylylimidodiphosphate ([ 3 H]Gpp(NH)p) from human platelet membranes has been used to probe the interactions between alpha 2 -adrenergic recpetors and N i , the guanine nucleotide binding protein that couples those receptors to an inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. We show here that ADP, which also acts through specific platelet receptors to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity, also promotes the release of [ 3 H]Gpp(NH). The amount of [ 3 H]Gpp(NH)-release elicited by epinephrine and by ADP together is equal to the sum of the amounts released by the two agents acting individually. Furthermore the maximal amounts of [ 3 H]Gpp(NH)-release elicited by each of the two agents approximates the numbers of receptors for ADP and epinephrine present in the platelet membranes. These results suggest that the two receptor types interact with distinct portions of the pool of N i molecules and that each receptor initiates guanine-nucleotide exchange on a single molecule of N i .
Improved colorimetric determination of amylose in starches or flours

Mode operatoire d'une methode de stabilisation de la couleur du complexe amylose-iode, prealable au dosage colorimetrique (635 nm). Application au dosage de l'amylose dans des farines de cereales (riz, mais et ble)
Low levels of genetic heterozygosity in Hymenoptera

IT has been suggested1–4 that organisms with a haplodiploid sex determination system should have reduced genetic variability relative to diploid organisms. In haplodiploid systems such as in bees and wasps (Hymenoptera), unfertilised eggs develop into haploid males and fertilised eggs into diploid females. Thus the frequency with which alleles are exposed to selection in an effectively homozygous state is increased over comparable diploid species. A lower level of genetic variation would be expected for haplodiploid organisms, relative to diploid organisms, for that genetic variation which is not neutral and is expressed in the haploid sex. Thus, measurement of the level of genetic variability in haplodiploid species is of considerable interest in understanding the mechanisms responsible for maintaining the high levels of genetic polymorphism in diploid organisms5,6. For this reason, we have measured the genetic variability in haplodiploid species using the combined techniques of electrophoresis and histochemical staining7,8. As predicted by selection theory, we have shown that the Hymenoptera (haplodiploid organisms) have a lower level of genetic heterozygosity and a lower frequency of enzyme polymorphism than do diploid organisms.
Epidemiology and sociodemographics of systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis among US adults with Medicaid coverage, 2000-2004.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with substantial variation by sex, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status (1–4). Past estimates of SLE prevalence in the adult U.S. population range from 24 to 150 per 100,000 (5, 6) and incidence from 2.2 to 5.6 per 100,000 (7, 8) (Table 1). Despite the wide variation in these estimates, rates are consistently higher in women compared to men and in African Americans compared to Caucasians. Prior studies also suggest increased prevalence among Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans (2, 9–11). To date, however, there are no U.S. nationwide administrative database examinations of the sociodemographics of adult SLE prevalence or incidence. A number of studies suggest that lupus nephritis (LN), one of the most severe manifestations of SLE, is both more common and more severe in racial and ethnic minorities, and progression to end-stage renal disease is higher in minority, uninsured, and low socioeconomic status (SES) groups (3, 11–18). Currently, no studies are available that investigate the prevalence or incidence of LN in a large, low-income U.S. population. Table 1 Previous Estimates of the Prevalence and Incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in the U.S. per 100,000 Adults In this study we used nationwide Medicaid claims data to investigate sociodemographic differences in the incidence and prevalence of SLE and LN among U.S. adults. Medicaid is a U.S. federal-state jointly run insurance program that provides health and long-term care coverage to eligible low-income individuals (19). Within this population, we investigated whether county-level SES and the number of rheumatologists per state (approximated using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) members), were related to differences in incidence and prevalence of SLE and LN, and the degree to which these variables could explain variation by race and ethnicity. Our goal was to provide a better understanding of the burden of SLE and LN among low-income, high-risk U.S. adults, which will encourage the necessary allocation of resources for early detection and essential treatment. We hypothesized that there would be significant variation in incidence and prevalence of SLE and LN by sociodemographic group, but that SES and the number of rheumatologists would modify these differences.
NEEDS: Information Adaptive Systems - A First Step Toward Smart Sensors

The Information Adaptive System (IAS) is an element of the NASA End-to-End Data System (NEEDS) Phase II, and is focused toward on-board image processing for the NEEDS program. Because the IAS is a data processing system, it is directly applicable to "smart sensor" programs and, as such, represents a preliminary step toward the development of smart sensors. Response nonuniformity correction, geometric correction, data set selection, data formatting, image feature analysis and adaptive system control are some of the functions planned for the IAS. The paper will present the preliminary design of the Information Adaptive System and will discuss plans for its development and demonstration.
Toxicological resources for cumulative risk: an example with hazardous air pollutants

Cumulative risk assessment, concerned with the multiple health effects of chemical mixtures, challenges the utility of existing single-chemical regulatory references. We compare example cumulative risk assessments for 40 HAPs; one based on single-effect toxicological data from EPA, and another based on a multiple-effect toxicological database we developed. For the 40-chemical HAP subset, the multiple effect database contains information on approximately seven effects per chemical and contains a total of 290 toxicological values. Seven health effects are represented in the IRIS data. Seventeen health effects are represented in the multiple-effect data. Respiratory and neurological effects ranked first and second in both cumulative analyses, regardless of the source data. In addition to respiratory and neurological effects, gastro-intestinal/hepatic, renal/kidney, and immunologic effects were identified as effects of concern on the basis of the multiple effect data. Immunologic effects are not found in the 40-chemical IRIS dataset. Cumulative risk assessment has the potential to expand our understanding of the public health impacts of environmental exposures. Advancements in toxicological resources will improve cumulative risk assessment. Cumulative risk assessment will reduce risks to the extent that it can be integrated into prevention strategies to track and protect the public's health.
Informing Theory from Practice and Applied Research

Editors' introduction: Patricia Gurin grew up in southern Indiana where citizens split in support of the South and the North during the Civil War, and where the Ku Klux Klan was founded. After graduating from Northwestern University, she worked with the American Friends Service Committee (the social action voice of the Quakers). Later, after earning her PhD in social psychology at the University of Michigan, she (with Edgar Epps) conducted a study of students attending historically Black colleges, focusing on how the vast majority integrated collective and individual achievements, worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and stayed in college at the same time. That work initiated her life-long interest in personal and group identity. Most recently, Gurin presented expert testimony in the 2003 Supreme Court cases on affirmative action and the use of race in college admissions decisions. This social science evidence, providing strong support for the compelling interest for diversity in higher education, was widely cited in the majority opinion favoring race-conscious admission policies. Gurin brings this rich activist scholarship to her commentary and discusses the promise of practice and applied research for informing theory. She traces her own professional biography, one that evolved from being a researcher (using primarily national surveys) and teacher (primarily large lecture courses) to becoming intimately involved in teaching through interactive, small group learning communities. Gurin brings to light contributions from the articles that converge on theorizing about the social context such that the theorizing can take into account differences rather than be applied universally.
Immunological specificity of novikoff hepatoma chromatin: Isolation of three antigenic proteins

Abstract 1. 1. Immunization of rabbits with dehistonized Novikoff hepatoma or normal rat liver chromatin elicited specific antibodies. 2. 2. Chromosomal nonhistone proteins from Novikoff hepatoma were fractionated and three proteins (approx. mol. wt 39,000, 49,000 and 56,000) were identified with the hepatoma antigenic complexes. 3. 3. All three proteins showed significant reactivity with PASt staining suggesting that they were glycosylated. 4. 4. Proteins migrating similar to these three Novikoff hepatoma fractions were detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the chromosomal nonhistone protein fraction obtained from normal rat liver. 5. 5. However, the three proteins from normal liver were PAS negative, and did not react immunologically with antiserum to dehistonized Novikoff hepatoma chromatin.
Observational assessment of young children's social behavior with peers

Understanding the social goals of young children during interaction with peers and the behavioral strategies they select to achieve those goals has both theoretical and practical implications. A convergence across theoretical and conceptual frameworks supports the development of a new generation of observational methodology designed to assess social goals and behavioral strategies of young children. The purposes of this article are to describe the role of observational research in the assessment of children's peer-related social competence; examine the conceptual frameworks that serve as a foundation for observational assessment of young children's social goals and behavioral strategies; describe the technological advances that allow more descriptive, precise, and complex behavioral codes for observational assessment and data analysis; provide an example of an observational system that assesses children's social goals and behavioral strategies; and identify the practical implications of studying young children's social goals and behavioral strategies.
Evolution of cognitive trust in distributed software development teams: a punctuated equilibrium model

A significant body of literature has addressed trust in distributed teams. However, several important issues such as 1) trust in distributed software development teams, 2) the evolution of cognitive trust, and 3) the role of communication media in trust development have not been adequately addressed. The objective of this paper is to address the void discussed above by conducting a longitudinal study to examine the evolution of cognitive trust among distributed software development teams from USA and Norway or Switzerland. The results suggest that cognitive trust develops in accordance with the tenets of the Punctuated Equilibrium Model (PEM). Additionally, our study also suggests that different factors are important for trust building during the different stages of a software development project. The findings contribute to the body of trust research and to practice by identifying stages in a software development project during which managerial intervention can help elevate trust levels.
Mixed Convection From Simulated Electronic Components at Varying Relative Positions in a Cavity

A numerical study of the combined forced and natural convective cooling of heat-dissipating electronic components, located in a rectangular enclosure, and cooled by an external through flow of air is carried out. A conjugate problem is solved, describing the flow and thermal fields in air, as well as the thermal field within the walls of the enclosure and the electronic components themselves. The interaction between the components is of interest here, depending on their relative placement in the enclosure, and different configurations are considered. For Re=100 laminar, steady flow is predicted for up to Gr/Re 2 =10, but R single-frequency oscillatory behavior is observed for most of the configurations studied, at Gr/R 2 =50
Estimation procedures for the type-1 extreme value distribution

Abstract Six estimation methods for the Extreme Value Type-1 (Gumbel) distribution are analyzed and compared by using data generation techniques. Considering criteria of bias, variance and mean square error of estimates of parameters and quantile points, including ease of obtaining estimators, it is concluded that the best linear combination of order statistics compares favorably with the other methods for sample sizes smaller than 20. For larger samples the probability weighted moments method is preferred. Likewise, considering all factors of comparison, the least squares and mode-interquartile range methods should not be used for fitting the Gumbel distribution.
The mechanism of an inhibitory antibody on TF-initiated blood coagulation revealed by the crystal structures of human tissue factor, Fab 5G9 and TF.G9 complex.

The tissue factor (TF)-initiated blood coagulation protease cascade can be greatly inhibited in vivo by a potent anti-human-TF monoclonal antibody, 5G9. This antibody binds the carboxyl module of the extracellular domain of TF with a nanomolar binding constant and inhibits the formation of the TF.VIIa.X ternary initiation complex. We have determined the crystal structures of the extra-cellular modules of human TF, Fab 5G9, and their complex (TF.5G9) to 2.4 A, 2. 5 A, and 3.0 A, respectively, and measured the apparent inhibition constants of 5G9 on a panel of TF mutants. In our unliganded TF structure, a 7 degrees change in the relative orientation between the D1 and D2 modules was observed when compared with other published TF structures. Comparison of the free and bound Fab 5G9 indicates that small segmental and side chain variation of the antibody complementarity determining regions occurred on complexation with TF. The antibody-antigen recognition involves 18 TF antigen residues and 19 Fab residues from six CDR with one of the largest buried surface areas seen to date. A combination of structural and mutagenesis data indicate that Tyr156, Lys169, Arg200, and Lys201 play the major role in the antibody recognition. The TF. 5G9 structure provides insights into the mechanism by which the antibody 5G9 inhibits formation of the TF.VIIa.X ternary complex.
Performance optimization of three-dimensional optoelectronic interconnection for intra-multi-chip-module clock signal distribution

The structure, fabrication, and theory of a 3D planarized optoelectronic clock signal distribution device, based on a thin light-guiding substrate in conjunction with a 2D polymer holographic grating array, are described. We have previously demonstrated a 25 GHz 1-to-42 (6 X 7) highly parallel fanout interconnect with a signal to noise ration of 10 dB1. In this paper, theoretical work focused on generating a globally uniform fanout distribution is presented. An objective function aimed at equalizing the intensities among the fanout beams is established and optimization results are reported. Finally, the angular misalignment and wavelength dispersion problem are further discussed, together with their tolerance requirements on the size of the photoreceivers and the bandwidth of the vertical cavity surface emitting lasers integrated on the multi-chip-modules.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Calorimetric study of Nematic-Smectic-A1 and Smectic-A1-Smectic-A2 transitions: T7, T8 and DB6 + TBBA

Abstract High-resolution ac calorimetric studies have been carried out on heptyloxybenzoyloxy cyanostilbene (T7), octyloxybenzoyloxy cyanostilbene (T8), and a mixture of a hex-ylphenyl cyanobenzoyloxy benzoate (DB6) and terephtal-bisbutyi aniline (TBBA). The heat capacity Cp . exhibits a sharp, asymmetric peak near the second-order nematic (N)-smectic-A1(SmA1) transition in these systems, all of which possess a nematic phase that is stable over a very wide temperature range. For a DB6+ 15% TBBA mixture, there is also a SmA1, = SmA2 transition at which Cp exhibits a distinct cusp. The critical exponent a is 0.05 (very close to a log singularity) for the SmA 1-SmA 2 transition and -0.14 for the SmA 1 -SmA 2 transition. These values are in good agreement with critical x-ray studies but do not conform with current theoretical predictions.
The Reflectivity-Activity Dilemma in School-University Partnerships:

Universities and schools differ in their orientations toward the role of reflectivity and activity in collaborative restructuring efforts. The authors describe and compare three models of school university partnerships in relation to factors that may affect the balance of reflectivity and activity needed for successful collaboration. They suggest that comparison, analysis, and evaluation of such models may provide guidelines for resolving the reflectivity-activity dilemma.
TU‐F‐9A‐01: Balancing Image Quality and Dose in Radiography

Emphasis is often placed on minimizing radiation dose in diagnostic imaging without a complete consideration of the effect on image quality, especially those that affect diagnostic accuracy. This session will include a patient image-based review of diagnostic quantities important to radiologists in conventional radiography, including the effects of body habitus, age, positioning, and the clinical indication of the exam. The relationships between image quality, radiation dose, and radiation risk will be discussed, specifically addressing how these factors are affected by image protocols and acquisition parameters and techniques. This session will also discuss some of the actual and perceived radiation risk associated with diagnostic imaging. Regardless if the probability for radiation-induced cancer is small, the fear associated with radiation persists. Also when a risk has a benefit to an individual or to society, the risk may be justified with respect to the benefit. But how do you convey the risks and the benefits to people? This requires knowledge of how people perceive risk and how to communicate the risk and the benefit to different populations. In this presentation the sources of errors in estimating risk from radiation and some methods used to convey risks are reviewed. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the image quality metrics that are clinically relevant to radiologists. 2. Understand how acquisition parameters and techniques affect image quality and radiation dose in conventional radiology. 3. Understand the uncertainties in estimates of radiation risk from imaging exams. 4. Learn some methods for effectively communicating radiation risk to the public.
Clinical comparison of the Welch Allyn SureSight handheld autorefractor versus cycloplegic autorefraction and retinoscopic refraction

Abstract Purpose To investigate the accuracy of the Welch Allyn SureSight (WASS; Welch Allyn, Skaneateles Falls, New York) handheld autorefractor in noncyclopleged children and to compare the results with those obtained in cyclopleged children using the Nidek AR-820 (NAR; Nidek, Aichi, Japan) and retinoscopic refraction (RR) of an experienced pediatric ophthalmologist. Methods Ninety-one children (mean age 97 months ± 19, range 37 to 107) whose vision screening, performed by a school nurse and/or by their primary care provider, was unsuccessful were prospectively evaluated in the private practice of a university pediatric ophthalmologist. After completion of a history, each child was refracted using the WASS. A complete ophthalmic examination, including cycloplegic refraction using the NAR and retinoscopic refraction refined to obtain a visual acuity of at least 20/30 diopters, was then performed. The physician was masked to the previous WASS and NAR results. Analysis variables included race, age (months), refraction (sphere, cylinder, axis), and initial and final corrected visual acuity. Only WASS values for which reliability was ≥ 8 were used. A coin toss determined which eye would be used for analysis. Results Using analysis of variance and Scheffe multiple comparison testing, sphere results obtained by the WASS indicated a statistical difference compared with those obtained using the NAR ( P = .0027) and retinoscopy ( P = .0088). Similarly, spherical equivalence results obtained by the WASS also indicated a statistical difference compared with that of the NAR ( P = .0027) and retinoscopy ( P = .0056). Myopic sphere and spherical equivalent values were recorded more frequently with the WASS than with the NAR or refined retinoscopy. Cylindrical values comparing the WASS with the NAR, the WASS with RR, and the NAR with RR were statistically similar to each other ( P = .9993, .748, and .7261 respectively). Axial results for patients with +0.50 or more of astigmatism were also statistically similar by all 3 methods. Conclusions Our data indicate that when the WASS is used on noncyclopleged children as suggested for primary care providers, myopia may be overdiagnosed.
A prospective evaluation of fetal pericardial fluid in 506 second-trimester low-risk pregnancies.

Abstract Objective: To measure fetal pericardial fluid in low-risk second-trimester pregnancies and to evaluate outcome for those with measurements greater than 2 mm. Methods: Five hundred and six women were referred for sonography between 16 and 25 weeks’ gestation for common obstetric indications (dating, fetal survey, and placental location) unrelated to an increased risk of anomalies. All cases were evaluated with two-dimensional and M-mode real-time ultrasonography with the use of a mechanical sector transducer. The maximum distance of the fetal hypoechoic cardiac rim was recorded. We reviewed maternal and infant charts for those with measurements greater than 2 mm. Results: Median (range) maternal age was 25 (15–42) years. Median gravidity and parity were two (1–14) and one (0–11), respectively. Median estimated gestational age was 20.4 (16.3–24.9) weeks. Fetal pericardial fluid was seen in 360 of 506 (71%) fetuses. Of these 360 fetuses, the mean distance (± 2 standard deviation) of the fetal hypoechoic cardiac rim was 1.20 mm ± 0.91 mm (95% confidence interval 1.15, 1.25). Among the 506 cases, the maximum measurement was 3 mm. Ten of the 506 (2%) cases had measurements greater than 2 mm. None of these ten fetuses had a cardiac structural abnormality or arrhythmia, and perinatal outcome was unremarkable. Conclusion: During second-trimester fetal ultrasonographic examination, visualization of pericardial fluid up to 2 mm in the fetus with current high-resolution technology is common and should not be regarded as pathologic.
Effect of pectin on atherosclerosis in the cholesterol-fed rabbit

Summary Californian male and female rabbits were fed for 11 months a diet containing 1 % cholesterol and 5 % of either pectin or cellulose. The male, pectin-fed rabbits had consistently lower blood cholesterol levels and a lower incidence of thoracic and abdominal atherosclerosis than did either the control animals or the females also receiving pectin. Both male and female rabbits on the pectin-supplemented diet excreted more lipid and sterol in the feces than did the control animals. There were no differences between dietary treatments in the severity of coronary lesions, but the female rabbits had more severe lesions than the male animals. Mortality was high between 6 and 11 months, but was somewhat lower on the pectin than on the control diet.