cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure ulcer prevention and management in spinal cord-injured adults: analysis of educational needs.

Objective The authors assessed the educational needs of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the prevention and early detection of pressure ulcers (PrUs). Specific recommendations are provided for the top needs identified, along with key issues to consider in implementing solutions. Design The authors used a needs assessment methodology using a purposeful, maximum variation sampling strategy that was based on age, injury level and completeness, time since injury, and PrU history to select cases that would identify the diverse influences on PrU education. Participants The authors interviewed 16 adults with SCI concerning perception of PrU risk, education, environmental considerations, and access to care. Also interviewed were 8 SCI professionals, including a physician specializing in rehabilitation medicine, physical and occupational therapists, a nurse case manager, and a wound care nurse practitioner. Main outcome The outcome of this research is the identification of educational needs for adults with SCI in PrU prevention and early detection. Results The needs identified are rank-ordered, and possible educational objectives are considered for each. Education needs identified include the following: *Awareness of lifelong risk for developing PrUs, including the ability to assess own risk factors and how risk changes over time. *Ability to take charge of own skin care regimen and to partner with health care providers. *Perform prevention strategies consistently that fit level of functioning and activity, and update practices as risk changes. *Ability to coordinate social supports. Conclusion The need for effective education among adults with SCI in the prevention and early detection of PrUs is critical.
The Influence of the El Niño Southern Oscillation on Suspended Sediment Load Variability in a Seasonally Humid Tropical Setting: Panuco Basin, Mexico

Although large tropical rivers transport the majority of suspended sediment to the oceans, because of a lack of adequate data there have been few detailed studies of sediment transport and its relationship to drainage basin processes. This study examines sediment transport variability in the lower Panuco basin of east-central Mexico using daily values of streamflow and suspended sediment load spanning from the late 1950s to early 1990s. These data are used to estimate sediment yield, and in considering the influence of El Nino and La Nina events on geomorphic processes. Annually, the Rio Panuco transports an average of 56267×10 3 tons of sediment. Substantial differences in sediment transport between the Rio Moctezuma and Rio Tamuin, large basins that join to form the Rio Panuco in the Gulf Coastal Plain, are related to lithologic variability. The Panuco basin has a sediment yield of 74.1 tons (km 2 /yr). However, sediment load varied considerably during the period of analysis due to the influence of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Although a number of studies have considered the hydrologic significance of ENSO events, few have systematically considered the geomorphic implications of both El Nino and La Nina events. Results from this study are significant because, in comparison to adjacent regions that are dominated by El Nino events, in the Panuco basin La Nina events are more significant in terms of streamflow and sediment production. In comparison to El Nino events, streamflow and sediment loads are 45% and 120% greater during summer La Nina events, respectively. This suggests that increases in runoff associated with wetter La Nina conditions result in disproportionate geomorphic responce. In comparison to the Tamuin basin, sediment loads are much greater in the Moctezuma basin, which illustrates that the influence of ENSO is greater in regions underlain by clastic deposits rather than limestone. This study is significant because it systematically illustrates the significance of ENSO events to geomorphic processes within a large basin located within the seasonally humid tropics.
Vitamin D3-up-regulated Protein-1 Is a Stress-responsive Gene That Regulates Cardiomyocyte Viability through Interaction with Thioredoxin

The protein-disulfide reductase thioredoxin is critical for redox signaling during apoptosis and growth. In this study, we demonstrate that vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 regulates thioredoxin in conditions of biomechanical or oxidative stress and critically regulates cardiomyocyte viability. Expression of vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 but not of thioredoxin in rat cardiomyocytes was rapidly suppressed by biomechanical strain or hydrogen peroxide at both mRNA and protein levels. Mechanical suppression of vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 gene expression was blocked by N-acetylcysteine. The half-life of vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 transcripts in cardiomyocytes was only 1.1 h and remained unchanged after mechanical stimulation, suggesting that rapid responses in vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 gene expression occur through transcriptional control. Vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 down-regulation by strain or hydrogen peroxide led to increased thioredoxin activity, whereas adenovirus-mediated overexpression of vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 suppressed thioredoxin activity. Overexpression of vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 but not of thioredoxin induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, overexpression of vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 sensitized cells to hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis, whereas overexpression of thioredoxin protected against injury. These data identify vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1 as a key stress-responsive inhibitory switch of thioredoxin activity in cardiomyocytes and demonstrate that the vitamin D(3)-up-regulated protein-1/thioredoxin axis has an important role in the preservation of cellular viability.
Demographic Correlates of the Protestant Work Ethic

ABSTRACT In the present study, we examined the relationships between the Protestant work ethic (PWE) and a number of demographic variables in a sample of 689 American subjects. The results showed that the Protestant work ethic was related to affiliation with the Republican Party, young age, less education, part-time employment, low income, and single (marital) status. The results of a stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that having less education and being affiliated with the Republican Party were the major predictors of the PWE.
The distribution of the formate activating enzyme and other enzymes involving tetrahydrofolic acid in animal tissues

Abstract A survey of a number of animals showed that the formate activating enzyme is present in almost all tissues. In invertebrates, the largest amounts of this enzyme were found in the gonads and reproductive products and the smallest amounts were found in muscle and digestive glands, except for Cancer magister. In the few vertebrate species included in this study, the greatest amounts of formate activating enzyme were found in liver tissues. Formate activating enzymes isolated from the oocytes of Schizobranchia insignis, from the ovaries of Pecten caurinus, Balanus nubilis and Cancer magister and from the livers of Sebastodes caurinus and the rabbit were compared with respect to the KM values for the three components of the reaction and for the requirement for divalent metal ions. Some information was also obtained on the pH optimum, the require-metal ions. Some information was also obtained on the pH optimum, the requirement for a reducing agent, and the stability of various enzyme preparations to storage in the cold. The data obtained indicate that the above enzymes are similar to highly purified preparations of formate activating enzyme obtained from bacteria, although some differences were found in the individual KM values, the metal requirements and the stability upon storage. Forty-one tissues from a selected group of animals (Schizobranchia insignis, Nereis brandti, Pecten caurinus, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, Balanus nubilis, Cancer magister, Sebastodes caurinus, Onchorynchus nerka, the chicken and the rabbit) were examined with respect to the amounts of four additional enzymes (N10-formyl tetrahydrofolic acid deacylase, cyclohydrolase, hydroxymethyl tetrahydrofolic acid dehydrogenase, and serine hydroxymethylase) concerned with the synthesis and interconversion of one-carbon derivatives of folic acid. Except for muscle tissue, varying amounts of the four enzymes were found and no correlation could be found between the levels of these enzymes and that of the formate activating enzyme. The muscle tissues of the above animals contained only small quantities of formate activating enzyme, deacylase, cylohydrolase and hydrofolic acid dehydrogenase, but had fairly large amounts of serine hydroxymethylase. In addition, the above animals were tested for the presence of the formaldehyde activating enzyme. Although 29 of the 41 tissues were found to have this enzyme, no correlation could be found between its distribution and that of the other enzymes studied.
Assessment of Wood Pile Deterioration due to Marine Organisms

In this paper a description of the major groups of marine organisms causing significant wood pile damage is presented. These organisms are divided into two groups: (1) fungi and (2) marine borers. The basic physical and biological characteristics of these organisms are presented, as well as the type of damage that they cause in marine wood piles. The objective of the study presented in this paper is to characterize deterioration of wood piles due to marine organisms and to assess damage in the wood pile zones of a typical waterfront installation. Marine borer activity in Maine coastal waters is assessed through a survey directed to harbor masters; the results of the survey are correlated with historic data. In order to illustrate the type and extent of wood pile deterioration, two case studies in Maine harbors are presented.
Interactive Informatics on Internet Infrastructure

We present the design and evaluation of 14, a network infrastructure that enables information exchange and collaboration among different domains. 14 can help with network management in many scenarios, such as when eliminating the unwanted traffic to improve the network performance as well as diagnosing the network problems. We present the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack as an example to demonstrate the advantages of 14. Simulation results show that 14 can significantly reduce the amount of DDoS attack packets and dramatically improve the quality of services received by legitimate users. Our design provides attractive properties, such as incremental deployment as well as incentives for such deployment etc.
Superconductivity: an emerging power-dense energy-efficient technology

As the world becomes more "electrified," efficient distribution and use of electrical power becomes increasingly important. Loss of electrical energy due to resistance to current flow translates into wasted energy and wasted economic resources. Superconductivity offers zero (dc) to near zero (ac) resistance to electrical flow; thus, the use of superconducting materials can improve the overall electrical system efficiency while significantly reducing the size and weight of power components and machinery. Although superconductivity was first discovered in 1911, the requirement of an extreme cryogenic environment (near absolute zero temperature) limited its utility. With the discovery in 1986 of a new class of "high-temperature superconductors (HTS)" that operate at substantially higher temperatures (although still cryogenic), remarkable progress has been made in advancing a broader use for superconducting technology. Full-scale demonstrations are now permitting the development of engineering skills required for systems implementation and are quantifying system benefits of this new HTS technology. This article briefly reviews some of the fundamental attributes of superconductivity and discusses how they can benefit our electrical power system. The article then briefly describes some of the ongoing U.S. demonstration projects (transmission lines, transformers, motors/generators, etc.), showing the benefits of superconductivity.
The Design of Therapeutic Chelating Agents

Abstract The factors involved in the design of therapeutic chelating agents are outlined on the basis of the theoretical analyses of ligand design and experimental data obtained in animal studies. The starting point in such design must always be those factors which assure that a sufficiently high stability constant be achieved, and here the analyses presented by Martell and his co-workers furnish a general approach. If the removal of intracellular metal deposits is to be achieved, additional factors need to be considered to incorporate variables which govern the interaction of the chelating agent with the membrane systems of those organs within which the toxic metal is concentrated. For these, the QSAR (quantitative structure activity relationship) procedure of Hansch furnishes a useful guide. This allows the development of direct structure-efficacy correlations (DSEC) involving molecular parameters in addition to those which are directly involved in the determination of the stability constant. In several...
Magnetic field dependence of the superfluid 3He AB transition

Abstract We are measuring the boundary between the superfluid A and B phases of 3He as a function of magnetic field and pressure. The results yield new information on Landau-Ginzburg parameters, microscopic quasiparticle scattering amplitudes, superfluid specific heats, and potentially other normal liquid properties through comparison with models of the superfluid.
Salient region detection based on spatial and background priors

Salient region detection is to uniformly locate interest regions or objects in an image. It is a hot topic in computer vision, and has a wide range of applications like object recognition and segmentation. Although considerable progress has been made, salient region detection remains a challenging issue. In this paper we present a simple yet effective salient region detection approach by integrating spatial and background priors. By considering spatial priors which include spatial distribution of color similarity and center-bias, the background regions and foreground regions are extracted preliminarily. Based on the extracted background we use the background prior to suppress the background regions more sufficiently. Experimental results on public benchmark databases show that the proposed approach can effectively locate salient object regions with well-defined boundaries and suppress background regions.
Feature screening using signal-to-noise ratios

Abstract We present an approach for identifying important input features in multi-layer perceptron feedforward artificial neural networks (ANN) trained via backpropagation. Specifically, we propose a new saliency measure and demonstrate its use in a methodology that holds the promise of potentially identifying and removing noisy input features in a single training run. First, we propose a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) saliency measure, which determines the saliency of a feature by comparing it to that of an injected noise feature. Next, we propose a feature screening method that utilizes the SNR saliency measure to select a parsimonious set of salient features. The SNR screening method is demonstrated using Fisher's Iris problem. Confidence in the SNR saliency measure and screening method are bolstered by comparisons to Setiono and Liu's neural network feature selector and a principal component analysis (PCA) approach on three real-world applications: the University of Wisconsin Breast Cancer Diagnosis problem, the US Congressional voting records problem, and the Pima Indians Diabetes problem.
Regulatory role of CD4+ T cells during the development of contact hypersensitivity responses.

Contac thypersensitivity (CHS) is a T cell-mediated immune response to cutaneous sensitization and subsequent challenge with haptens such as dinitrofluorobenzene and oxazolone. Many aspects concerning the development and regulation of CHS remain unknown. Using CHS as a model of T cell-mediated immune responses to antigens deposited in the skin we have studied the development and function of effector and regulatory T cell componenets of this response. These studies have revealed the effector role of hapten-specific CD8+ T cells in this response. In contrast, hapten-specific CD4+ T cells negatively regulate the magnitude and duration of the response. In this article we propose a model in which the CD4+ T cells during sensitization for CHS and discuss potential mechanisms that CD4+ T cells might utilize to mediate this regulation.
Structure−Activity Relationship Studies of 4-[2-(Diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine Derivatives and Their N-Analogues: Evaluation of Behavioral Activity of O- and N-Analogues and Their Binding to Monoamine Transporters

In our effort to develop a pharmacotherapy for the treatment of cocaine addiction, we embarked on synthesizing novel molecules targeting the dopamine transporter (DAT) molecule in the brain as DAT has been implicated strongly in the reinforcing effect of cocaine. Our previously developed DAT-selective piperidine analogue, 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine, was the basis for our current structure−activity relationship (SAR) studies exploring the significance of the contribution of the benzhydryl O- and N-atoms in these molecules in interacting with the DAT. Thus, we replaced the benzhydryl O-atom with an N-atom, altered the location of the benzhydryl N-atom to an adjacent position, and in one other occasion converted the benzhydryl O-ether linkage into an oxime-type derivative. Furthermore, we also evaluated the important contribution of the piperidine N-atom to binding by altering its pKa value chemically. Novel analogues were tested for potency in inhibiting [3H]WIN 35,428, [3H]citalopram, ...
Students’ confidence and perceived value for participating in cross-cultural wiki-based collaborations

An international wiki-based collaboration was integrated into a large introductory educational technology course enrolling 346 students, divided into 43 teams. Student teams participated in a 5-week project in which they created wiki chapters about the educational uses of specific Web 2.0 tools. Two to four international students, located in their home countries, participated on each team, collaborating via the evolving wiki, as well as other Web 2.0 tools. Using expectancy-value as our motivational framework, we gathered pre- and post-survey data, triangulated with focus group interview data, to examine changes in students’ confidence and perceived value for using these tools to facilitate international collaborations. Survey results showed significant changes in confidence and perceived value, while qualitative results provided insights into students’ perceptions of critical project components. We discuss students’ perceptions of project barriers as well as the strategies they implemented to achieve success.
Metabolism of Cyanocobalamin by L-1210 Leukemic Lymphoblasts

ConclusionsIn our previous experiments (4) we demonstrated that L1210 leukemic lymphoblasts were capable of taking up vitamin B-12 when bound to transcobalamin II. Intracellular B-12 was also found to be bound to a protein with the characteristics of TCII. In the present study we have demon-strated that L-1210 cells do not themselves contain a TCII-like protein in the cytoplasmic soluble phase. We have further demonstrated that a portion of this protein-bound B-12 has been converted to the adenosyl and methyl forms and that such coenzyme forms may be countertransported to the exterior of the cell. These observations are consistent with our original suggestion that the entire B-12 complex crosses the plasma membrane. TCII may deliver B-12 to mitochondria where conversion to the coenzyme forms occurs. A portion of the converted vitamin appears to be transported out of the cell where it is free to recirculate.
Pseudo-creation of the Big Bang

John Maddox has rejected the Big Bang model of the Universe as "philosophically unacceptable" and Jean-Marc Levy-Leblond has replied, "it need not be as 'philosophically unacceptable' as he contends." But Maddox expects, and Levy-Leblond allows, that scientific evidence will turn out to justify the abandonment of the model.
In Vitro Screening of Biochemical Activity of Folic Acid Antagonists in Skin

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors, which differ from the classical folate antagonists in physicochemical and pharmacologic parameters such as lipid solubility and mechanisms of cellular transport, were screened for DHFR inhibitory activity and biologic activity in newborn rat skin. The most effective drugs from this screen were tested for their effects on de novo DNA synthesis in psoriatic epidermis in vitro. Of the 24 compounds studied, methotrexate (MTX) was the most potent inhibitor of rat skin DHFR (I 50 = 8.6 × 10 -8 M). Methotrexate-dimethylester, methasquin-diethylester, DDEP (2,4-diamino-5-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-6-ethylpyrimidine), and Baker's triazine antifolate (NSC 139105), while less effective than MTX as DHFR inhibitors, were more effective than MTX as inhibitors of de novo DNA synthesis in rat skin in vitro. Baker's antifolate was the only compound tested which was considerably more effective than MTX as an inhibitor of de novo DNA synthesis in psoriatic epidermis in vitro.
Lactate Kinetics in Severe COPD: Implications of an Abnormal Aminopyrine Breath Test

The ability of the 13C aminopyrine breath test (APBT) to reflect hepatocellular metabolic capacity and therefore to predict lactate removal following incremental exercise in male COPD patients was evaluated. Two previous patients with COPD who had histories of heavy alcohol intake but no overt liver disease showed prolonged lactate elevation following exercise. The possibility of subclinical hepatic disease affecting lactate removal was considered. No patient in the present study had clinical evidence of liver disease. Four of 9 patients had an abnormal APBT (mean 5.0% cumulative dose 13CO 2 excreted over 2 h). Patients with a normal APBT (group 1) and with an abnormal APBT (group 2) were compared. The groups did not differ in age or severity of lung disease. An incremental exercise test was performed and lactate samples were collected before, during, and for 90 min following exercise. Exercise parameters (work rate, duration, V O 2 max, VEmax, and peak lactate) did not differ between groups. Comparing group 1 with group 2 mean values, the time to recover to resting lactate values (Trecov 45 vs 76 min, respectively, p 2 was inversely correlated with both Trecov (r = −0.76, p
Exercise and Risk of Major Cardiovascular Events in Adult Survivors of Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

Purpose Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are at increased risk of treatment-related cardiovascular (CV) events; whether exercise modifies this risk is unknown. Methods Survivors of HL (n = 1,187; median age, 31.2 years) completed a questionnaire evaluating vigorous-intensity exercise behavior. CV events were collected in follow-up questionnaires and graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.03). The primary end point was incidence of any major (grade 3 to 5) CV event. Poisson regression analyses were used to estimate the association between exercise exposure (metabolic equivalent [MET] hours/week−1) and risk of major CV events after adjustment for clinical covariates and cancer treatment. Results Median follow-up was 11.9 years (range, 1.7 to 14.3 years). Cumulative incidence of any CV event was 12.2% at 10 years for survivors reporting 0 MET hours/week−1 compared with 5.2% for those reporting ≥ 9 MET hours/week−1. In multivariable analyses, the incidence of any CV ev...
Suppression of fever and hyperalgesic responses to the EP3-receptor agonist GR 63799X by EP3-receptor antisense in rats

Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of GR 63799X (GR, 20–300 ng), an agonist for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptor subtype EP3, produced a dose-related increase in the body temperature (Tb) of rats. Pretreatment with an antisense (AS), but not a missense (MS), oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) against the EP3 receptor attenuated GR (20 ng)-induced fever. Icv GR (20 ng) or PGE2 (200 ng) induced a hyperalgesia in the cold water tail-flick test, but not in the AS group. These results demonstrate that central EP3 receptors play an important role in fever and hyperalgesia caused by PGE2.
Factory injuries and progressive reform.

In 1907,the popular author Arthur B.Reeve wrote, “To unprecedentedprosperity . . . there is a seamyside of which little is said. Thou-sands of wage earners, men,women, and children, [are]caught in the machinery of ourrecord breaking production andturned out cripples. . . . Otherthousands [are] killed outright. . . .How many there [are] none cansay exactly for we [are] too busymaking our record breaking pro-duction to count the dead.”
An improved medical ultrasonic imaging system for scanning peripheral anatomy

Abstract An improved Ultrasonic B-scan/Doppler system has been developed for the noninvasive assessment of atherosclerotic arterial disease. Very high-resolution cross-sectional images of anatomic structures are produced by the 10-MHz B-scan subsystem. Instantaneous profiles of blood flow velocity as a function of position are produced by a bidirectional 16-channel pulsed-Doppler subsystem, operating at 5 MHz. Flow profiles are superimposed on the B-scan image, allowing simultaneous evaluation of anatomic structure and blood flow dynamics. Images of the carotid artery, thyroid gland, testicle, and eye are presented to demonstrate the diagnostic potential for imaging peripheral anatomy.
Multiple limit cycles in the standard model of three species competition for three essential resources.

We consider the dynamics of the standard model of 3 species competing for 3 essential (non-substitutable) resources in a chemostat using Liebig's law of the minimum functional response. A subset of these systems which possess cyclic symmetry such that its three single-population equilibria are part of a heteroclinic cycle bounding the two-dimensional carrying simplex is examined. We show that a subcritical Hopf bifurcation from the coexistence equilibrium together with a repelling heteroclinic cycle leads to the existence of at least two limit cycles enclosing the coexistence equilibrium on the carrying simplex- the ``inside'' one is an unstable separatrix and the ``outside'' one is at least semi-stable relative to the carrying simplex. Numerical simulations suggest that there are exactly two limit cycles and that almost every positive solution approaches either the stable limit cycle or the stable coexistence equilibrium, depending on initial conditions. Bifurcation diagrams confirm this picture and show additional features. In an alternative scenario, we show that the subcritical Hopf together with an attracting heteroclinic cycle leads to an unstable periodic orbit separatrix.
A Computer Study of Dynamic Loads Caused by Vehicle-Track Interaction

Computer analyses of vehicle and track are producing enlightening results regarding actual dynamic loads and the manner in which various parameters of vehicle and track structure affect these loads. Using this information, it is possible to decide more intelligently how to alleviate the high wheel-rail stresses caused by today's unique traffic and track conditions. Possible solutions range from better track maintenance to different wheel rail geometries to changes in stiffness and damping of trucks and the track structure itself.
Use of orthogonal collocation methods for the modeling of catalyst particles—II analysis of stability

Abstract The use of high-order orthogonal collocation methods leads to accurate prediction of the critical Lewis number characterizing the transient instability of the steady states of a catalyst particle with arbitrary external resistance. When combined with a suitable algorithm for the determination of the characteristic polynomial of a matrix, the method becomes quite efficient. First-order approximations such as lumping, collocation or a combination of both, as well as the Paterson—Cresswell technique are not satisfactory for stability analysis.
Effects of Naturally Existing Peer Groups on Changes in Academic Engagement in a Cohort of Sixth Graders.

This study examined the effects of peer groups on changes in academic engagement in 11- to 13-year-old children. From the entire cohort of 366 sixth graders in a town, 87% participated at the beginning and end of the school year. Peer groups were assessed using socio-cognitive mapping; as an indicator of motivation, teachers reported on students’ classroom engagement. Peer groups were homogeneous in terms of engagement, and despite considerable member turnover across time, their motivational composition remained fairly intact. Peer group engagement levels in the fall predicted changes in children’s motivation across time. Although the magnitude of effects was relatively small, evidence for group influences persisted when controlling for peer selection and the influence of teacher and parent involvement.
CNS young investigator award lecture: Molecular analysis of the neurofibromatosis 2 tumor suppressor

Abstract Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2), also known as bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis or central neurofibromatosis, is a severe autosomal dominant disease characterized by the development of multiple nervous system tumors. The tumors of NF2, which include schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas, are histologically benign; however, their location and multiplicity led to great morbidity and mortality. These tumors commonly affect the general population in their isolated form, and have been found to undergo loss of chromosome 22 material in many studies; because of this the NF2 gene has been postulated to be a classic tumor suppressor. The NF2 gene has recently been isolated and found to encode a new member of the protein 4.1 family of cytoskeletal associated proteins which we have named merlin . To define the molecular basis of NF2 in germline and tumor specimens, we have used single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis to scan the exons of the NF2 gene. We have located and characterized underlying ca USAtive mutation in 21 of 33 unrelated affected individuals studied, and 32 of 38 schwannomas. DNA sequence analysis revealed that over 90% of NF2 mutations are predicted to lead to a truncated protein due to frameshift, creation of a stop codon, or interference with normal RNA splicing. Current studies focus on relating the highly variable NF2 phenotype to its genotype, defining alternative NF2 related phenotypes, and elucidating the parental origin of new mutation in this disease.
CRF-OPT: an efficient high-quality conditional random field solver

Conditional random field (CRF) is a popular graphical model for sequence labeling. The flexibility of CRF poses significant computational challenges for training. Using existing optimization packages often leads to long training time and unsatisfactory results. In this paper, we develop CRFOPT, a general CRF training package, to improve the efficiency and quality for training CRFs. We propose two improved versions of the forward-backward algorithm that exploit redundancy and reduce the time by several orders of magnitudes. Further, we propose an exponential transformation that enforces sufficient step sizes for quasi-Newton methods. The technique improves the convergence quality, leading to better training results. We evaluate CRF-OPT on a gene prediction task on pathogenic DNA sequences, and show that it is faster and achieves better prediction accuracy than both the HMM models and the original CRF model without exponential transformation.
Reactions leading to 37Ar and 37K energy levels

Abstract Thirty-four 37Ar levels have been found with the 39K(d, α)37Ar and 35Cl(3He, p)37Ar reactions, and the spectra of these two reactions are compared in a search for the T= 3 2 analogue to the 37Cl ground state. The nuclear temperature calculated from the 37Ar level density is 1.4 MeV. The angular distribution of the 39K(d, α)37Ar reaction to the lowest six levels at Ed = 10 MeV indicates a dominant direct interaction mechanism. The 2I+1 rule of the statistical model is found to be inapplicable. The ground state Q-value of the 40Ca(p, α)37K reaction has been measured as −5179±9 keV. This value implies a 37K mass excess of −24804±10 keV.
Making Quotas Work: The Effect of Gender Quota Laws On the Election of Women

Gender quota laws are intended to increase the number of women elected to legislatures, but initial evidence suggests that many laws have had little effect. I present a cross-national, statistical test that analyzes how three key dimensions of candidate quota laws affect women’s representation. My results show that quotas that require more women to be on party ballots lead to the election of more women, independent of placement mandates and enforcement mechanisms, but rules governing where female candidates are listed on the ballot and sanctions for noncompliance amplify that effect. Candidate quotas can increase women’s representation, but the quotas’ effectiveness depends on their design. Women’s representation in national legislatures around the world has nearly doubled in the past 30 years. Yet the world average for women legislators in 2007 was still only 18%, far less than parity, and the percentage of legislative seats held by women varies widely across countries (IPU 2007). Explanations for women’s underrepresentation stress cultural, socioeconomic, and, perhaps most important, institutional differences in political systems. Specifically, electoral rules, such as those defining the type of electoral system and district magnitude, have been found to affect women’s representation because these rules determine how votes get translated into seats. Despite the benefits that certain institutional arrangements provide for increasing the number of women in legislatures, women continue to be underrepresented in most countries. In an effort to change this trend, many countries have adopted gender quotas—“fast track” mechanisms for increasing women’s representation. While quotas are intended to increase women’s representation, the extent to which they do so varies significantly across countries. For this study, I examined why some types of gender quotas have been more effective than others at increasing women’s representation. I looked specifically at national candidate quota laws, which have been
Evolution of life histories along elevational gradients: Trade-off between parental care and fecundity

Life history responses to environmental conditions include a combination of fecundity-survival schedules and behavioral strategies that yield the highest fitness in a given environment. In this study, we examined the pattern of covariation in avian life history strategies along an elevational gradient by comparing variation in life history traits, including most components of parental care, between phylogenetically paired taxa from low- and high-elevation sites. We found that high-elevation species had significantly lower annual fecundity but provided greater parental care to their offspring. However, a strong negative relationship between offspring number and duration of parental care along the elevational gradient suggested that high-elevation species were shifting investment from offspring number toward offspring quality. Although adult survival did not differ between high- and low-elevation species, higher juvenile survival may have compensated for lower annual fecundity in high-elevation species. The elevation at which breeding occurred strong- ly influenced the partitioning of parental behavior between sexes. Male participation in nestling provisioning was significantly greater in high-elevation species. In turn, altitudinal variation in the frequency of biparental care closely covaries with the intensity of sexual selection, ultimately resulting in the strong elevational pattern of sexual dimorphism. More- over, elevational variation in costs of development and maintenance of secondary sexual traits constitutes an additional effect on fecundity-survival schedules along elevational gradients. Thus, a trade-off between fecundity and parental care, and associated interactions among morphological, life history, and behavioral traits play important roles in the evolution of life history strategies in birds.
An oceanographic data recorder

The authors have designed and built a low‐power, low‐cost tape recorder capable of extended operation in either analog or digital recording modes. Its small size permits use inside 6‐inch ID pressure vessels that would normally preclude a commercial recorder of similar specifications. Data are recorded on 1800 ft of 1/4‐inch audio tape using standard 5‐inch diameter tape reels. Total continuous analog recording time at 1/40 inches/sec is 10 days. In the digital mode, total storage capacity at 2500 bits per inch is 4.0×108 bits. This permits 14 hours continuous recording at 125-Hz sample rate or 7 hours at a 250-Hz sample rate. A single motor‐gearhead combination drives the capstan flywheel and tape take‐up fluid clutch through urethane belts. Guides are of polished stainless steel and are fixed, in keeping with simplicity. Cost to manufacture, including fabrication and parts, is $1,000.00, plus $150.00 for a four‐track analog head or $500.00 for a seven‐track head. During the last 2 years, the recorders h...
Peer group victimization as a predictor of children's behavior problems at home and in school

This study reports a short-term prospective investigation of the role of peer group victimization in the development of children's behavior problems, at home and in school. Sociometric interviews were utilized to assess aggression, victimization by peers, and peer rejection, for 330 children who were in either the third or fourth grade (approximate mean ages of 8–9 years old). Behavior problems were assessed using standardized behavior checklists completed by mothers and teachers. A follow-up assessment of behavior problems was completed 2 years later, when the children were in either the fifth or sixth grade (approximate mean ages of 10–11 years old). Victimization was both concurrently and prospectively associated with externalizing, attention dysregulation, and immature/dependent behavior. Victimization also predicted increases in these difficulties over time, and incremented the prediction in later behavior problems associated with peer rejection and aggression. The results of this investigation demonstrate that victimization in the peer group is an important predictor of later behavioral maladjustment.
Ultrawide-band radar observations of multipath propagation over the sea surface

An ultrawide-band radar system centered at 10 GHz has been developed for sea-scatter research and was recently deployed on a research pier in the North Atlantic. The radar is based on a time-domain reflectometer module for a sampling oscilloscope. Using transient excitation of a traveling wave-tube amplifier, the system generates 200-ps wide pulses with a 10-GHz center frequency and a peak power of approximately 1 KW. The resulting range resolution is approximately 3 cm. The system was used to investigate low-grazing angle, multipath effects in the ocean environment using a trihedral corner reflector, mounted 45 cm above the water surface. The ultrahigh-range resolution of the system allows spatial separation of the direct and indirect echoes from the trihedral. In addition, a comparison of the indirect vertically- (VV) and horizontally- (HH) polarized echoes illustrates the effects of Brewster angle damping. The implications of these effects for sea-clutter statistics are briefly discussed.
Pediatric hospitalists: training, current practice, and career goals.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the range and frequency of experiences, clinical and nonclinical roles, training, work expectations, and career plans of practicing pediatric hospitalists. DESIGN: Mail survey study of a national sample of 530 pediatric hospitalists of whom 67% (N 5 338) were from teaching hospitals, 71% (N 5 374) were from children’s hospitals, 43% (N 5 230) were from freestanding children’s hospitals, and 69% (N 5 354) were from hospitals with � 250 beds. RESULTS: The response rate was 84%. The majority (54%; N 5 211) had been practicing as hospitalists for at least 3 years. Most reported that the pediatric inpatient unit (94%) and inpatient consultation service (51%) were a part of their regular clinical assignment. Most did not provide service in the normal newborn nursery (58%), subspecialty inpatient service (52%), transports (85%), outpatient clinics (66%), or as part of an emergency response team (53%). Many participated in quality improvement (QI) initiatives (84%) and practice guideline development (81%). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the most comprehensive information available regarding the clinical and nonclinical roles, training, work expectations, and career plans of pediatric hospitalists. However, the field is currently a moving target; there is significant flux in the hospitalist workforce and variation in the roles of these professionals in their clinical and nonclinical work environment. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:179–186. V C 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Learning on Interdisciplinary Gerontological Teams: Instructional Concepts and Methods.

The use of geriatric and gerontological health care teams has become increasingly widespread, and institutions of higher education need to provide more training opportunities for students from different health disciplines to work together as interdisciplinary teams. At the same time, new and innovative means of enhancing and monitoring the effectiveness of our instructional methods in team development must be developed. This paper reports on two methods used in a course on interdisciplinary teamwork in gerontology that have proven useful in fostering and gauging students’ progress in becoming team players. The first method is a structured journal in which students record observational, theoretical, and methodological notes in the process of experiential learning. The important conceptual underpinnings of this process and the use of writing as a way of encouraging collaborative learning are emphasized. The second method is a team development inventory that is completed each week by the students and uses a ...
A hybrid approach to balance the variability and intermittency of renewable generation

Proposed solutions to overcome the intermittency and variability of wind and solar generation are manifold. However, it is unlikely that a single technology and/or method will enable the envisioned high penetration of these resources. In this paper, a hybrid approach is presented which coordinates and optimizes the operation of wind generation, hydro power plants, large and small-scale storage devices, conventional power plants and demand side management. The approach is based on model predictive control (MPC) which takes advantage of wind and load forecasts and uses fluid dynamics to predict and optimally schedule hydro power plants.
Optimizing static calendar queues

The calendar queue is an important implementation of a priority queue which is particularly useful in discrete event simulators. In this paper we present an analysis of the static calendar queue which maintains N active events. A step of the discrete event simulator removes and processes the event with the smallest associated time and inserts a new event whose associated time is the time of the removed event plus a random increment with mean /spl mu/. We demonstrate that for the infinite bucket calendar queue the optimal bucket width is approximately /spl delta//sub opt/=/spl radic/(2b/c)/spl mu//N where b is the time to process an empty bucket and c the incremental time to process a list element. With bucket width chosen to be /spl delta//sub opt/, the expected time to process an event is approximately minimized at the constant c+/spl radic/(2bc)+d, where d is the fixed time to process an event. We show that choosing the number of buckets to be O(N) yields a calendar queue with performance equal to or almost equal to the performance of the infinite bucket calendar queue. >
The Shaba crises: Stumbling to victory

(1994). The Shaba crises: Stumbling to victory. Small Wars & Insurgencies: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 180-200.
A real-time ergonomic monitoring system using the Microsoft Kinect

Laborers in factories all across the world perform physically intensive tasks daily. With every lift they put themselves at risk of injury. Many still-frame modeling systems exist that can assess the different stresses and strains on the laborers body given his or her position. These models are only usable by experts, and do not allow for real-time alerts. In 1995, companies in the United States lost $50 billion due to injured employee absences and compensation settlements. Companies are not only eager to reduce their overhead costs, but also aim to better society by offering more robust worker safety practices. The focus of this project was to design a system that can be used in a training environment. Our system is used to teach employees if their current lifting and carrying methods can be detrimental to their health. Our system is designed to be used for longstanding employees as well as new hires. This project's primary requirement was to implement a motion sensing device to aid in the analysis of ergonomics in an industrial environment. To do this we proposed to make use of Microsoft Kinect© sensors. The Kinect© is able to provide skeletal tracking at 30 frames/second for two individuals in the field of view. To develop the system we selected the Microsoft software development kit (SDK) from a large variety of alternative professional and open source SDKs because of a variety of desirable features. A static ergonomic model was integrated with the Kinect© software. Multiple other software packages were assessed for compatibility with the Kinect© in an effort to enhance the Kinects'O ability to recognize objects and humans. After development was complete the system was tested by analyzing our system's output using different skeletal lift positions to compare to the real results. Our system provides real-time ergonomic analysis of lifts performed by humans. This system lacks the ability to recognize specific individuals and objects necessary to customize the system to adequately evaluate a lift, and has not been tested in a factory environment. In the future we hope to implement a dynamic ergonomic model so that it can recognize whole movements or gestures which lead to injury, rather than recognizing a single position. Our system successfully outputs a number for the recommended weight limit as well as other methods to measure the strain on a worker's skeleton. In a training environment the system will help individuals correct the problems with their lifting motions.