cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of intrapartum penicillin on vaginal group B streptococcus colony counts

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the temporal relationship between intrapartum penicillin-G (PCN-G) and vaginal group B streptococcus (GBS) counts. Study Design In 50 women with GBS-positive antenatal cultures, intrapartum cultures were collected just before the first PCN-G dose and every 2 hours × 4 or until delivery. Colony counts were quantified using serial dilution. Results were standardized as percent of initial colony count and analyzed using sequential Wilcoxon tests. Results Of 50 subjects with GBS-positive antepartum cultures, 35 (70%) had positive intrapartum vaginal cultures, of which 27 received intrapartum PCN-G. Degree of vaginal colonization varied greatly between subjects, and counts (percents) were not normally distributed. From the T 0 (time = zero) colony count standardized to 100%, counts fell rapidly to means ± SE and medians of 18.2 ± -7.5% and 0.5% at T 2 ( P 4 ( P = .006), and less than 0.2% and 0.0% at T 6 and 8 ( P = .07 and P = .46, respectively). Conclusion Vaginal GBS colony counts fall rapidly after intrapartum PCN-G administration, which may partly explain the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis.
Is antisocial personality disorder associated with increased HIV risk behaviors in cocaine users

Previous reports have shown antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) to be strongly associated with injection equipment sharing and increased rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a sample of heroin injectors. Another report has shown ASPD to be associated with injection drug use, needle sharing, sexual promiscuity, and prostitution in a sample of methadone maintenance clients. The current study extends this work by examining the relationship of ASPD and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors in a sample of cocaine users (48% out of treatment and 52% just entering treatment). Associations were tested for sexually risky behaviors in addition to injection behaviors. The principle finding of this study is that ASPD was shown to be associated with increased rates of injection drug use and sharing syringes, with earlier age of onset of injection drug use, with certain venereal diseases, and with a variety of HIV risk sexual behaviors. When men and women were tested separately, the pattern of association of risky behaviors with ASPD varied considerably. Overall, this work confirms that psychiatric status, especially the presence of ASPD, may have to be considered in evaluating the results of HIV risk-reduction interventions.
Adaptive model and neural network based watermark identification

Transform techniques generally are more robust than spatial techniques for watermark embedding. In this research, neural networks and adaptive models are utilized to estimate watermarks in the presence of noise as well as other common image processing attacks in the discrete cosine transform (DCT) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) domains. The proposed method can be used to semi-blindly determine the estimated watermark. In this paper, a comparative study to a previous method, LMS correlation based detection, is performed and demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed adaptive neural network watermark embedding and detection scheme under different attacks. Finally, the proposed scheme in the DCT transform domain is compared to the proposed scheme in the DWT domain.
Effect of Hypoxia on Stimulatory Effect of TGF-β1 on MMP-2 and MMP-9 Activities in Mouse Fibroblasts

Because chronic low-grade hypoxia has been implicated in the pathogensis of fibrosis and postoperative adhesion formation, we hypothesized that hypoxia may modulate the effect of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 at both transcriptional and translational levels. Mouse fibroblasts were placed in a hypoxic environment with or without 1 ng/mL TGF-β1 for varying periods of time. Zymography was performed on cell supernatants collected after each treatment. Gelatinolytic bands corresponding to MMP-2 and MMP-9 were quantiated by desitometry. Multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain rection (RT-PCR) was also performed for MMP-2 and MMP-9 on total RNA extracted from cells after each treatment. Analysis of PCR-amplified products was performed by 2% agarose gel followed by ethidium bromide staining of DNA bands. Scanning densometry was used to determine the ratio of intensity of each band relative to β-actin. Hypoxia resulted in a 64% decrease in MMP-9 activity and 80% decrease in MMP-9 mRNA level but did not affect MMP-2 mRNA level or activity. TGF-β1 treatment resulted in 180% and 50% increases in MMP-2 and MMP-9 acitivites, respectively. Increases of 37.5% and 40% in MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA levels, respectively, were seen. However, under hypoxic conditions, TGF-β1 resulted in a 160% increase and 45% decrease in MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and a 37.5% increase and 71% decrease in MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA levels, respectively. Hypoxia suppresses the stimulatory effect of TGF-β1 on the activity of MMP-9 but not MMP-2. This may suggest an important role for MMP-9 under hypoxic conditions in the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis and postoperative adhesion formation.
Denaturation of ferritin and its relationship with hemosiderin.

The fate of the ferritin molecules in vitro after degration with oxidizing agents and tryptic digestion has been determined using chemical, serological, and electron optical techniques. Oxidizing agents used were acetylphenylhydrazine, hydrogen peroxide, and molecular oxygen. The denaturation products of oxidized ferritin are compared with hemosiderin with respect to physicochemical, immunological, and ultrastructural characteristics. The conclusion is drawn that hemosiderin in vivo is a denaturation product of ferritin. The possible mechanism of the biosynthesis of hemosiderin in living tissue is discussed taking into account the above conclusion.
Past physical abuse is significantly correlated with pregnancy as an adolescent.

Study Objective: To determine which type or types of childhood abuse are associated with adolescent pregnancy and other adverse health outcomes.
Violence and Ethnicity on a Qing Colonial Frontier: Customary and Statutory Law in the Eighteenth-Century Miao Pale

No less than in modern times, law under imperial systems can do many things. Its enactment can be a focus for bureaucratic debate and struggle. Its implementation may provoke bitter resistance or creative adaptations. It can be ignored or it can spur unpredictable social change. In eighteenth-century southwestern China, law did all this: issues of law are paramount in the burst of Qing (1644–1911) expansion and Han Chinese colonization which brought many local non-Han societies directly under imperial governance for the first time. This paper examines both its development and its effects in the remote region of the Eastern Miao (Hmong) (see map), a group based on settled agriculture in the Hunan/Guizhou provincial border zone west of the Yuan river. It begins with administrative incorporation (which occurred in two stages in 1703–4 and 1727–32) and ends on the eve of the Miao uprising and its suppression in the 1790s.
Ribosomal RNA gene dosage as a function of tissue and age for mouse and human.

Abstract The average number of rRNA genes per haploid genome (rRNA gene dosage) of the cells present in liver and brain was determined throughout the lifespan of the inbred C 57 BL 6 J mouse strain and of human. Ribosomal RNA gene dosage was determined using the RNA-excess DNA · RNA hybridization technique. DNA was extracted and purified using a CsCl chloroform method with a high percent yield (over 90%) to minimize any possible effects of tissue and age-dependent selective loss or gain of rRNA genes. Radioactive rRNA was from the liver of the youngest age group for either mouse or human in all hybridization experiments, with DNA from the different tissues and age groups being the only variable. In the young mouse (35–49 days), the rRNA gene dosage was 36% higher in brain (114 genes), as compared to liver (84 genes). The rRNA gene dosage remained essentially constant as a function of age for mouse brain; but between the age of about 220 to 440 days, it increased in liver, attaining approximately an equal value to that of brain. No significant difference was found in the rRNA gene dosage of brain or liver between different mice of the same age. In contrast to this result, a significant difference was found between human tissues of similar age. The rRNA gene dosage ranged about 2-fold (148–289) between 2 months to 75 years of age. An age-dependent trend, similar to that for mouse liver, was found when the averages of four different age groups totaling 20 individuals were compared. However, this was not statistically significant. No difference in the rRNA gene dosage as a function of sex or tissue was apparent. Several models are discussed to account for these results.
The Nail as a Noninvasive Indicator of Methylmercury Exposures and Mercury/Selenium Molar Ratios in Brain, Kidney, and Livers of Long-Evans Rats

Animal studies indicate that the toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg) exposures increase when selenium (Se) status is low. Toxicity is directly proportional to Hg/Se molar ratios in critical tissues such as brain and increase dramatically as molar ratios exceed 1:1. In this study, we examined the nail as a biomonitor of Hg/Se molar ratios in kidney, liver, and brain tissues of weanling male Long-Evans rats fed controlled diets containing varying amounts of Se and MeHg. Linear regression analyses indicate that the natural log transform of the Hg/Se ratio in the nails is strongly related to the Hg/Se molar ratio in kidney, liver, and brain (p < 0.01 in all cases). The nail appears to be a reliably accurate noninvasive biomonitor of the Hg/Se molar ratio in tissues and should, therefore, be considered for use in human studies.
Pathways Involved in the Synergistic Activation of Macrophages by Lipoteichoic Acid and Hemoglobin

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a Gram-positive cell surface molecule that is found in both a cell-bound form and cell-free form in the host during an infection. Hemoglobin (Hb) can synergize with LTA, a TLR2 ligand, to potently activate macrophage innate immune responses in a TLR2- and TLR4-dependent way. At low levels of LTA, the presence of Hb can result in a 200-fold increase in the secretion of IL-6 following macrophage activation. Six hours after activation, the macrophage genes that are most highly up-regulated by LTA plus Hb activation compared to LTA alone are cytokines, chemokines, receptors and interferon-regulated genes. Several of these genes exhibit a unique TLR4-dependent increase in mRNA levels that continued to rise more than eight hours after stimulation. This prolonged increase in mRNA levels could be the result of an extended period of NF-κB nuclear localization and the concurrent absence of the NF-κB inhibitor, IκBα, after stimulation with LTA plus Hb. Dynasore inhibition experiments indicate that an endocytosis-dependent pathway is required for the TLR4-dependent up-regulation of IL-6 secretion following activation with LTA plus Hb. In addition, interferon-β mRNA is present after activation with LTA plus Hb, suggesting that the TRIF/TRAM-dependent pathway may be involved. Hb alone can elicit the TLR4-dependent secretion of TNF-α from macrophages, so it may be the TLR4 ligand. Hb also led to secretion of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), which synergized with LTA to increase secretion of IL-6. The activation of both the TLR2 and TLR4 pathways by LTA plus Hb leads to an enhanced innate immune response.
Bride Wealth, an Alternate View

In this paper I view the amount of bride wealth paid as a distinct part of a larger bride wealth institution, and present an economic explanation for the variation in amount paid among the pastoralists of East Africa. Citing the importance of labor and nomadic movements to the size of pastoral cattle herds, the amount of bride wealth paid is seen as a function of these constraints. Statistical analysis of the data on bride wealth and nomadic pattern yields a nearly perfect cor relation supporting this view.
Transport of 14C-Diphenylhydantoin and 14C-Leucine Through Rabbit Crevicular Epithelium

Isolated gingival crevices of rabbits were used to quantitate the transport of 14C-diphenylhydantoin and 14C-leucine through noninflamed crevicular epithelium. 14C uptake measured in the serum after two-hour application, indicated that both diphenylhydantoin and amino acid were transported and that at the dose levels used, more of the diphenylhydantoin was found in the blood than the amino acid. Very high levels of the drug were found in cerebral cortex while other tissues had much lower levels.
Heterometallic alkoxides of zirconium with tin(II) or lead(II)

Syntheses of SnZr(OR)6 (R = iPr, tBu) and PbZr(OtBu)6 are described. With Pb and the smaller ligand OiPr, no 1:1 compound forms, but instead Pb4Zr2(OiPr)16 and Pb2Zr4(OiPr)20 are isolated. The latter two compounds are shown to have serpentine (not closo) structures with six-coordinate Zr and three- and four-coordinate Pb. Spectroscopic studies show fluxionality (including Pb site exchange) and retention of structure in aromatic solvents. Synthetic interconversions are effected with addition of the appropriate alkoxide (Pb(OiPr)2 or Zr(OiPr)4) with the correct stoichiometry. Titanium forms no analogous compounds. Crystallographic data (both P21/c at −174 °C) for Pb4Zr2(OiPr)16, a = 12.190(6) A, b = 14.701(7) A, c = 19.978(13) A, and β = 105.57(3)° with Z = 2; for Pb2Zr4(OiPr)20, a = 16.996(6) A, b = 10.014(3) A, c = 24.924(9) A, and β = 105.86(1)° with Z = 2.
Fate of fibrinopeptides in the reaction between human plasmin and fibrinogen

Abstract The trichloroacetic acid-soluble fragments that are released during initial stages of attack of plasmin upon fibrinogen consist in large part of N-terminal segments from the βB chain. The β B fragments could be distinguished from others because they release fibrinopeptide B when treated with thrombin. Release of the β B fragments was partially preceded by faster release of only one other trichloroacetic acid-soluble fragment and followed by slower release of at least three and subsequently many others. No loss of coagulability of the fibrinogen occurred until the overall reaction with plasmin had progressed well beyond the stage of β B fragment release. Fibrinopeptide B itself was not cleaved from the fragments by plasmin until a late stage in the overall reaction. As could be predicted from studies of Iwanaga, S., Wallen, P., Grondahl, N., Henschen, A., and Blombach, B. [(1967) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 147, 606–609] fibrinopeptide A was fully retained as part of the trichloroacetic acid-precipitable hulk of the degraded fibrinogen up to the terminal stage. Gel electrophoresis showed that the large C-terminal fragment of the αA chain which others had described as initial product was released over the same period taken for release of the β B fragments. The rapid loss of B due to release of the β B fragments, and the retention of A contrasted sharply with the converse order in which fibrinopeptides are released from fibrinogen by thrombin. Full content of fibrinopeptide B in some preparations of cryoprofibrin indicated formation of this fibrinogen-fibrin complex is not critically dependent upon degradation by plasmin.
Infanticide as an evolutionarily stable strategy

Abstract An evolutionarily stable strategies analysis of infanticide, expressed as two pure strategies, shows that the equilibrial frequency of infanticide depends on only two parameters: the relative advantage of infanticide when others are also infanticidal and the relative advantage of a non-infanticidal strategy if others are non-infanticidal. The possible equilibrial conditions of strictly infanticidal, strictly non-infanticidal, stably polymorphic or history-dependent populations correspond to various earlier models of infanticide. Thus, these earlier models may be subsumed as special cases of the ESS analysis. This permits the comparison of alternative theories of infanticide in specific cases of infanticide in natural populations. In particular, it is argued that if infanticide confers a relative advantage on the perpetrator when other population members are non-infanticidal, this is sufficient to reject a ‘maladaptive’ explanation for infanticide. The potential existence of history-dependent equilibria suggests there will be extreme difficulty with non-experimental methods that attempt to test the adaptiveness of infanticidal behaviour.
Reconstruction of preglacial drainage and its diversion by earliest glacial forebulge in the upper Mississippi Valley region

Reconstructions of preglacial drainage in the upper Mississippi Valley region have previously been based on the pattern of bedrock valleys. It has been recognized recently that many bedrock valleys have been produced during Pleistocene time by glacial diversion and accompanying glacio-isostasy. A more speculative approach to reconstruction of preglacial drainage in the upper Mississippi Valley region is based on considerations of paleoslopes, late Pliocene landscapes, and structural control, in addition to bedrock topography. This approach results in a pattern that is in harmony with the underlying geology, but it does not lead to a single, unique, unambiguous reconstruction. For the purposes of this study, the trunk stream is assumed to lie along the axis of the Wisconsin and Kankakee arches. Like that of the Wisconsin arch, the drainage pattern is asymmetrical, the longer tributaries entering from the west and north. The present course of the Mississippi River above the mouth of the Rock River is postulated to be an ice-marginal stream associated with an early glacial advance into Iowa from the north and west. A glacial forebulge may have played an important role in determining this course.
Low energy neutrino reactions in water Cherenkov detectors

Abstract I discuss the charge-current nuclear response of water Cherenkov detectors to neutrinos from supernovae, the neutral current nuclear response of carbon-bearing liquid scintillation detectors, and the possibility of detecting 8B solar neutrinos with a water Cherenkov detector enriched in 18O.
Almost nuclear: Introducing the Nuclear Latency dataset

The capacity to build nuclear weapons—known as “nuclear latency”—is widely believed to be important in world politics. Yet scholarly research on this topic remains limited. This paper introduces a ...
Do Private Religious Practices Moderate the Relation between Family Conflict and Preadolescents' Depression and Anxiety Symptoms?.

We extended past research that focused on the relation between family conflict and preadolescents’ depressive and anxiety symptoms. In a sample of 160 11- to 12-year-olds, we examined whether private religious practices moderated the relations between family conflict and preadolescents’ depressive and anxiety symptoms. Although preadolescents’ depressive and anxiety symptoms were not significantly associated with their private religious practices, preadolescents’ private religious practices moderated the relations between: (a) both mother- and preadolescent-reported family conflict and preadolescents’ anxiety symptoms; and (b) both mother- and preadolescent-reported family conflict and preadolescents’ depression symptoms. The relation between family conflict and depression and anxiety symptoms was significantly stronger for preadolescents low, versus high, in their private religious practices. Preadolescents’ sex was not differentially related to these findings. Results highlight the role that private rel...
Uniform and Ordered Copper Nanomeshes by Microsphere Lithography for Transparent Electrodes

We report a comprehensive simulation and experimental study on the optical and electronic properties of uniform and ordered copper nanomeshes (Cu NMs) to determine their performance for transparent conductors. Our study includes simulations to determine the role of propagating modes in transmission and experiments that demonstrate a scalable, facile microsphere-based method to fabricate NMs on rigid quartz and flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrates. The fabrication method allows for precise control over NM morphology with near-perfect uniformity and long-range order over large areas on rigid substrates. Our Cu NMs demonstrate 80% diffuse transmission at 17 Ω/square on quartz, which is comparable to indium tin oxide. We also performed durability experiments that demonstrate these Cu NMs are robust from bending, heating, and abrasion.
Kinetics of the Carbon Monoxide Oxidation Reaction Under Microwave Heating

915 MHz microwave heating has been used to drive the CO oxidation reaction over Pd/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} with out significantly affecting the reaction kinetics. As compared to an identical conventionally heated system, the activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction order with respect to CO were unchanged. Temperature was measured using a thermocouple extrapolation technique. Microwave-induced thermal gradients were found to play a significant role in kinetic observations. The authors chose the CO oxidation reaction over a supported metal catalyst because the reaction kinetics are well known, and because of the diverse dielectric properties of the various elements in the system: CO is a polar molecule, O{sub 2} and CO{sub 2} are non-polar, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is a dielectric, and Pt and Pd are conductors.
Effects of borophosilicate film post-growth treatments on the flow angle

Abstract The flow angle is an important characteristic of borophosphosilicate (BPSG) films. In this work the effects of chemical compositions and various film post-growth treatments, namely delay time, deionized water rinse and flow ambients, on the flow angle are explored with the help of Fourier transform IR spectroscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. The spectral analysis shows that the effects of the various treatments on the flow angle possibly result from the chemical changes that occur on film surfaces. It is found that the BPSG films absorb moisture during delay and deionized water rinse. The absorbed moisture enhances the silicate bonding characteristics and causes the boron oxide to be transformed into boron hydroxide. These phenomena give rise to a larger flow angle. Details of all the effects will be discussed and appropriate film post-growth treatments for obtaining BPSG films with good flow properties will be presented.
A Broader Perspective: Counseling Psychology’s Emphasis on Evidence

The process of identifying empirically supported treatments developed by the Division 12 of the American Psychological Association has been criticized from various perspectives. However, there are a number of alternative evidence-based models for using research findings to increase the efficacy of mental health services. In this article, the principles of empirically supported interventions developed and adopted by Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology) are presented. These principles (a) utilize a broad perspective of evidence, (b) consider a range of psychological interventions, (c) emphasize the quantitative aggregate of research evidence, (d) consider various levels of specificity, and (e) recognize philosophy of science issues that impinge on the types of conclusions that can be made.
Pediatric interventional cardiology: 2009.

Purpose of review Pediatric interventional cardiology has evolved quite dramatically over the past few decades and now, in 2009, the published literature continues to evolve new percutaneous strategies for managing patients with congenital heart disease, both simple and complex. Our goal for this review was to highlight new techniques and the new devices available to the pediatric interventional cardiologist, and to review the outcomes from past endeavors. Recent findings Manuscripts published in the past year continue to demonstrate innovation; indicating an exciting and increasing experience of transcatheter treatment of septal communications using either new occluder devices or novel techniques. Bioabsorbable devices and percutaneously implanted valves are leading examples of technological improvements and creativity that will ultimately improve patient outcomes while minimizing invasiveness. Reports on procedural outcomes show technically safe early follow-up, with promising mid-term and long-term results for balloon valvuloplasty, balloon atrial septostomy and pulmonary artery stent implantation. As well, fetal and hybrid interventions have become important new arenas for the pediatric interventionist. Summary Pediatric interventions have grown far beyond the early stages of the 1980s as mid-term and long-term outcome data are being reported, and many previously insurmountable hurdles have been overcome by developing new strategies and devices.
A Residents’ Program for Educating Adolescents About Mental Health Issues

This paper describes a school-based program in which psychiatry residents educate adolescents about a variety of mental health topics. Adolescents responded positively to the program and were principally concerned about drugs, depression, suicide, and family problems. Residents also liked presenting in the schools. Participation in this program allowed residents to learn about agency consultation and secondary prevention. Possibilities for program expansion are discussed.
An all-reflective computed tomography imaging spectrometer

The computed tomographic imaging spectrometer (CTIS) is a passive non-scanning instrument which simultaneously records a scenes spectral content as well as its 2-D spatial. Simultaneously implies a time frame limited only by the frame rate and signal-to-noise of the imaging device. CTIS accomplishes this by feeding incident scene radiation through a computer generated hologram (CGH) in Fourier space. The resulting dispersion pattern is recorded on a conventional pixilated imager and is stored on a local computer for post processing using iterative reconstruction techniques. A virtual 3-D datacube is constructed with one dimension in terms of energy weights for each wavelength band. CTIS is ideal for observing rapidly varying targets and has found use in military, bio-medical and astronomical applications. For the first time we have built an entirely reflective design based on the popular Offner reflector using a computer generated hologram formed on a convex mirror surface. Furthermore, a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) has been uniquely incorporated as a dynamic field stop for smart scene selection. Both the MEMS and reflective design are discussed. The CTIS multiplexes spatial and spectral information, so the two quantities are interdependent and adjustments must be made to the design in order to allow adequate sampling for our given application. Optical aberrations arising from a tilted image plane are alleviated through design optimization.
New short constraint length rate (n-1)/n punctured convolutional codes for soft-decision Viterbi decoding

Punctured convolutional codes with good performance are reported for rates (n-1)/n with n=5, 6, 7, 8 and constraint lengths k=2, 3, . . ., 6. The tabulated codes are nonsystematic binary convolutional codes with maximum free distance and minimum information weight, for use with soft-decision Viterbi decoding. >
Whole program paths

Whole program paths (WPP) are a new approach to capturing and representing a program's dynamic---actually executed---control flow. Unlike other path profiling techniques, which record intraprocedural or acyclic paths, WPPs produce a single, compact description of a program's entire control flow, including loop iteration and interprocedural paths.This paper explains how to collect and represent WPPs. It also shows how to use WPPs to find hot subpaths, which are the heavily executed sequences of code that should be the focus of performance tuning and compiler optimization.
Policy Expansion of School Choice in the American States

This research study explores the policy expansion of school choice within the methodological approach of event history analysis. The first section provides a comparative overview of state adoption of public school choice laws. After creating a statistical portrait of the contemporary landscape for school choice, the authors introduce event history analysis as a methodological solution to the problem of measuring policy expansion. Building on previous studies in the social science literature, we proceed to discuss political, economic, and social factors related to the passage of charter school laws. A multivariate analysis finds state adoption is significantly related to partisan gubernatorial control, classroom spending, private schools, education finance litigation, and minority representation. The final section discusses the empirical results in the modern policy environment and proposes future directions for comparative state research. We gratefully appreciate the helpful comments of Mark Berends, Jack...
HPC.NET - are CLI-based Virtual Machines Suitable for High Performance Computing?

The Common Language Infrastructure is a new, standardized virtual machine that is likely to become popular on several platforms. In this paper we review whether this technology has any future in the high-performance computing community, for example by targeting the same application space as the Java-Grande Forum. We review the technology by benchmarking three implementations of the CLI and compare those with the results on Java virtual machines.
Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma Associated With Nonimmune Fetal Hydrops

We describe the case of a 31-week fetus who died in utero with an invasive retroperitoneal kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. This rare vascular neoplasm usually presents as a localized violaceous skin lesion in infants and behaves in a benign fashion; however, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma may present as an invasive neoplasm of the chest or abdominal cavity, where it can lead to the Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, which consists of thrombocytopenia, consumptive coagulopathy, and microangiopathic anemia in association with a vascular anomaly. The case we describe is unique in that the tumor presented in utero and led to intrauterine nonimmune fetal hydrops. Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma has been described in utero; however, to our knowledge, intrauterine fetal death as a direct consequence has not been reported previously in the literature.
Evaluating Competence of Women and Men: Effects of Experimenter Gender and Group Gender Composition

College students (78 females, 79 males) were placed in all-female, all-male, or mixed-gender groups. In the presence of a male or female experimenter, subjects evaluated an article written by a female or male job applicant. Subjects in mixed-gender groups generally evaluated the female applicant more favorably in the presence of the female experimenter than the male experimenter. Subjects in mixed-gender groups also rated the female applicant more favorably than the male applicant in the presence of the female experimenter. Male subjects generally were more influenced than were females by the experimenter's gender, tending to give higher ratings to the applicant of the same gender as the experimenter.
Data Analysis and Representation on a General Domain using Eigenfunctions of Laplacian

Abstract We propose a new method to analyze and efficiently represent data recorded on a domain of general shape in R d by computing the eigenfunctions of Laplacian defined over there and expanding the data into these eigenfunctions. Instead of directly solving the eigenvalue problem on such a domain via the Helmholtz equation (which can be quite complicated and costly), we find the integral operator commuting with the Laplacian and diagonalize that operator. Although our eigenfunctions satisfy neither the Dirichlet nor the Neumann boundary condition, computing our eigenfunctions via the integral operator is simple and has a potential to utilize modern fast algorithms to accelerate the computation. We also show that our method is better suited for small sample data than the Karhunen–Loeve transform/principal component analysis. In fact, our eigenfunctions depend only on the shape of the domain, not the statistics of the data. As a further application, we demonstrate the use of our Laplacian eigenfunctions for solving the heat equation on a complicated domain.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen Induces a Strong Bend on Binding to Terminal Repeat DNA

During latency, the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus genome is maintained as a circular episome, replicating in synchrony with host chromosomes. Replication requires the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) and an origin of latent DNA replication located in the viral terminal repeats, consisting of two LANA binding sites (LBSs) and a GC-rich sequence. Here, we show that the recruitment of a LANA dimer to high-affinity site LBS-1 bends DNA by 57° and towards the major groove. The cooccupancy of LBS-1 and lower-affinity LBS-2 induces a symmetrical bend of 110°. By changing the origin architecture, LANA may help to assemble a specific nucleoprotein structure important for the initiation of DNA replication.
Intermetallic Compounds of the Type MNi5 as Methanation Catalysts

Catalytic reactions of carbon monoxide with hydrogen have been studied in which intermetallic compounds of the formula MNi5 (where M is thorium, uranium, or zirconium) have been used as the catalysts. The materials perform effectively as methanation catalysts; ThNi5 has a specific activity exceeding that of a typical commercial oxide-supported methanation catalyst by a factor of about 5. This material also shows superior resistance to hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Nickel, formed as a decomposition product of the MNi5 intermetallic compound, is probably the active species, but its properties are influenced by the nature of M in the precursor MNi5 system.
Radiographic endodontic working length estimation: comparison of three digital image receptors.

Objective This in vitro study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the Schick wireless image receptor compared with 2 other types of digital image receptors for measuring the radiographic landmarks pertinent to endodontic treatment. Study design Fourteen human cadaver mandibles with retained molars were selected. A fine endodontic file (#10) was introduced into the canal at random distances from the apex and at the apex of the tooth; images were made with 3 different #2-size image receptors: DenOptix storage phosphor plates, Gendex CCD sensor (wired), and Schick CDR sensor (wireless). Six raters viewed the images for identification of the radiographic apex of the tooth and the tip of a fine (#10) endodontic file. Inter-rater reliability was also assessed. Results Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect for the type of image receptor. Raters' error in identifying structures of interest was significantly higher for Denoptix storage phosphor plates, whereas the least error was noted with the Schick CDR sensor. A significant interaction effect was observed for rater and type of image receptor used, but this effect contributed only 6% ( P 2 = 0.06) toward the outcome of the results. Conclusions Schick CDR wireless sensor may be preferable to other solid-state sensors, because there is no cable connecting the sensor to the computer. Further testing of this sensor for other diagnostic tasks is recommended, as well as evaluation of patient acceptance.
Random binary search: A randomizing algorithm for global optimization in R 1

Randomizing stochastic global optimization algorithms can be viewed as sampling procedures, where at each iteration a local optimum is sampled from the set of local optima. The effectiveness of such an algorithm depends crucially on the sampling distribution, i.e., on the probabilities of sampling the various local optima. There exists a very large body of research on stochastic global optimization. However, very little is known about the sampling distribution itself and, in particular, on the specific way in which it depends on the function being optimized, on the region in which the search takes place, and on the optimization routine. In this paper we set out to examine these issues in some detail and present some first results in this direction. The case analyzed in this paper is the optimization of a one-dimensional function using a randomizing version of binary search. We give an effective computable in quadratic time formula for the sampling distribution and obtain various interesting properties of this distribution which are relevant to the behavior of the algorithm in practice. We also discuss some issues related to adaptive search.
Wavelet-based radar waveform for moving targets detection

In a previous paper by the authors, a wavelet-based waveform (WBW) is described which can suppress range sidelobes for static targets effectively. In this paper, we describe the use of WBW in speed detection via Doppler frequency. We compare WBW with conventional waveform using linear frequency modulation (LFM) for both range and speed detections. Analysis and simulation results show that WBW achieves higher resolution in both range and speed detections over LFM. Further study shows that WBW can be applied in SAR to acquire high resolution image.
Uni-Traveling-Carrier Photodiodes with Increased Output Response and Low Intermodulation Distortion

Waveguide uni-traveling-carrier photodiodes have been fabricated and tested to investigate the influence of the doping profile in several of the device layers on saturation characteristics and linearity. Two particular photodiode (PD) structures arc discussed. Compared to PD A, PD B has a lower and more graded p-doping profile in the absorber layer and also a higher n-doping level in the collector layer. For PD B a higher field is induced in the absorber layer and the higher doping in the collector layer provides charge compensation. An enhancement in the response for PD B is observed with increasing photocurrent. At a frequency of I GHz the saturation current for PD A is 65 mA and that for PD B is 63 mA. The third-order intermodulation distortion was also measured at various photocurrent levels. For PD A, the third-order output intercept point (OIP3) for photocurrent levels of 10 mA, 20 mA, and 30 mA is 34.7 dBm, 38.6 dBm, and 35.8 dBm respectively. Those for PD B are 28.1 dBm, 41.0 dBm, and 37.2 dBm. These are all for a bias of -5 V. While PD A has a higher OIP3 at lower photocurrent levels, PD B is favorable for high current operation.
Spectral analysis considerations relevant to leaky modes of open-boundary waveguides

The behavior of significant features in the transverse spectral plane for the Sommerfeld-type integrals associated with the open-boundary waveguiding systems is investigated, particularly for the microstrip transmission line in a planar layered background environment. The locations of the integration contour and branch points are chosen to be consistent with continuous physical transitions between operating regimes. The rationale for choosing branch cuts in the transverse spectral plane is given. Pole singularities arising from the layered background surround are then obtained in a manner consistent with the cutting of the transverse spectral plane. Trajectories of the poles and branch points are presented for typical leaky modes. >
Turning liabilities into assets in a general education course

Debate concerning the content of the general education Computer Science course or the "Computer Literacy" course captures the interest and divides the opinion of the Computer Science community. This paper describes three of the typical difficulties (liabilities) that instructors of a general education course encounter and how instructors may capitalize on these difficulties to transform them into assets.
Broken relationship: social policies, the Arab States and the middle class

The middle class is an important category of interest not only because they are the main driver of economic activity and, thus, vital to the economic development of any country, but also because they are an interest group which influences political and social life. It is also widely reported that the middle class was involved in the Arab uprisings. Going forward, the success of political transition and economic development in the Arab region will largely depend on the middle class, since they are instrumental in mobilizing support, in redefining the existing development framework and governance model and in renegotiating a new social contract in the region. This paper explores the relationship between the State, social policies and the middle class in the Arab region. In doing so, the paper advances three arguments. First it argues that that the Arab states have used social policies and the underlying social contract to gain legitimacy and nation building and hence have shied away from political reform and participative democracy. Second, it argues that the middle class were the main beneficiaries of the social policies and the implicit social contract. They were socially empowered in terms of higher levels of human development and relatively good social protection, especially within formal sector jobs. And third and finally, as a result of economic hardships, increasing repression, and lack of political space the paper argues that the middle class eventually rejected the social contract and thus endangered political and social stability which led to the recent uprisings in the Arab region. As a way forward, the paper concludes that Arab countries should establish social policies in harmony with macroeconomic policies, which are transformative, developmental, inclusive and democratic.
Apprenticeship in the United States: Patterns of Governance and Recent Developments

The share of US workers who undertake apprenticeship training is small compared to most other OECD countries and compared to the number of workers who undertake postsecondary education. However, the scale of the US apprenticeship is large compared with the training funded through the federal Workforce Investment Act. Historically, US apprenticeship programmes have been highly concentrated in construction, manufacturing, and other selected fields, including public safety and some military occupations. Although the federal government has funded efforts to establish apprenticeships outside these traditional sectors, the gains have so far been modest. This paper describes how the US registered apprenticeship system operates and examines the benefits of apprenticeship for workers and employers. In addition to presenting data on the earnings gains for workers, the paper describes new evidence showing that employer sponsors of apprenticeship investments perceive the programme as highly desirable and worth expanding.
Welfare assessments for long-term housing in animal shelters.

A KEY consideration for animal shelters is maintaining quality of life and welfare. In the USA many shelters are experiencing a decrease in intake and euthanasia rates, resulting in shorter lengths of stay. With an emphasis on quality of life, shelters employ many strategies, such as adoption events, foster programmes and adoption ambassadors (who help move animals through the shelter system faster) to try to reduce the time animals are kept in a shelter. Widely available community-based spay neuter programmes and return-to-field management of free roaming cats are resulting in lower intake rates, which further decreases euthanasia and length of stay. Euthanasia may be employed as a last resort to help manage shelter populations in order to ensure that capacity for care is not exceeded. Housing animals humanely for weeks to months requires regular assessment, careful management and effective enrichment to ensure physical and mental health are maintained. In many European communities strict ‘no-kill’ policies make it illegal to euthanaise shelter animals. As in American shelters with such policies, inflexible regulations can lead to very long lengths of stay (months to years). If a facility has an open admission policy (meaning all animals in a given community or geographical area are accepted) then overcrowding can result. When animals …
An Unfolding of Theory and Practice: From Ingarden to a Phenomenological Aesthetic for Opera

Contemporary aestheticians owe a debt to the phenomenological investigations of Roman Ingarden. His Literary Work of Art ([1931] 1973), Ontology of the Work of Art ([1961] 1989), and Cognition of the Literary Work of Art ([1968] 1973) have stimulated significant phenomenological investigation in literature and literary arts. Opera, a genre combining music and literature (as well as mise en scene),did not escape Ingarden’s attention in his phenomenological inquiry. Or, perhaps it did, as he describes opera as including those works which
Analysis of a Dynamic Model, with Particular Emphasis on Long-Run Projections

The primary objective of this paper is to present to economists and students an efficient method for deriving long-run projections of many interrelated economic variables. Several useful equilibrium concepts are given precise definition. A simple set of supply and demand equations is used to demonstrate that mathematical analysis of dynamic econometric models is a powerful tool for projecting future time paths of certain economic variables. Short-run or impact multipliers and long-run multipliers are derived. Impact multipliers relate to the estimated effects of a change in the exogenous variables on the values of the endogenous variables in the current period. Long-run multipliers describe the estimated effects of a once-and-for-all change or continuous changes in exogenous variables on projected values of the endogenous variables. These multipliers are potentially useful in policy appraisal and long-run analyses.
The capabilities approach and Catholic social teaching: an engagement

ABSTRACTThis essay brings Martha Nussbaum's politically liberal version of the Capabilities Approach (CA) to human development into critical dialogue with the Catholic Social Tradition (CST). Like CST, Nussbaum's focus on embodiment, dependence and dignity entails a social use of property which privileges marginalized people, and both theories explain the underdevelopment of central human capabilities in social rather than exclusively material terms. Whereas CST is metaphysically and theologically ‘thick', however, CA is ‘thin’: its proponents positively eschew metaphysical commitments, believing a commitment to quasi-Rawlsian ‘overlapping consensus' is more consistent with political liberalism. This creates two tensions between CA and CST. The first is that CST understands the internal virtues of essentially social practices to be inseparable from their concrete instantiation in actual communities, while CA sometimes describes these virtues as political entitlements which can be supported independently o...
Ownership of mines and taxation in Castilian laws, from the middle ages to the early modern period: the decisive influence of the sovereign in the history of mining

Sovereign ownership of mines and taxation were fundamental principles governing the mining economy of the territories of the Castilian crown during the medieval period. Ownership of mines meant that mineral wealth, discovered or undiscovered, belonged to the crown estate. Only the sovereign could grant mining rights to ‘private’ persons and impose mineral taxation. Particularly during the last three centuries of the Reconquista (thirteenth to fifteenth centuries), these principles were used to unify the situation in those territories falling under the sway of a sovereign with expansionist ambitions. Increasing globalisation of the metal trade in the thirteenth century and the formation of capital markets in Europe firmly put the Castilian crown in competition with other economic agents aiming to win a monopoly in metallic wealth. Castile's mining laws aspired to solve the ensuing tension by attracting merchant capital to the mines, aiming to absorb the comparative advantages of mining capital. In a protracted process, the mineral laws of the sixteenth century were a testimony to the decisive influence of the sovereign in the history of mining.